DEFINITIONS:

DEFINITIONS: 1. Open Records – Information maintained by MDOC that is allowable for distribution to the public as defined by Mississippi Code. 2. Freedom of Information Requests – Formal requests for information by the media, the public, other local, state and federal agencies, attorneys, organizations and other individuals or groups. 3. Communications Director – Oversees the daily activities of the Communications Division in communicating and promoting the department’s objectives, goals, accomplishments and needs. 4. Communications Specialist – Assists the Communications Director and other Communications Specialists in collecting, coordinating and disseminating information pertinent to institutions, Community Corrections, special events and offenders. 5. Communications Division Duty Officer – Designated Communications Division staff on call for all extraordinary occurrences taking place after hours to include weeknights (Monday – Friday), weekends and holidays. 6. Director of the Division of Victim Services – Coordinates the daily activities of the Division of Victim Services as defined in the policy, Division of Victim Services. 7. Media – Any agency that gathers and reports news for a general circulation newspaper, news magazine, national or international news service, or radio/television news program holding a Federal Communications Commission license. “Infotainment” publications and broadcasts are not considered news media. 8. Press Release – A written statement concerning an issue, event or situation which the department wishes to make a permanent record with a wide area of distribution. 9. Press Announcement – A written statement sent to media regarding an upcoming MDOC event. 10. Fact Sheet – A written summary of information pertaining to a specific subject, to possibly include history, capacity/population and mission. 11. Credentials – For purposes of identification, both photo identification (such as a valid driver’s license) and an identification (ID) card issued by the reporter’s place of employment will be required. In the absence of employee ID cards, MDOC reserves the right to verify all identification and refuse admittance when such identification is found to be suspect. 12. Extraordinary Occurrence – An event that occurs at an MDOC facility which is outside of normal operations.