RCOG VOLUNTEER LAY SPOKESPERSONFOR FERTILITY

Role Title / RCOG volunteerlay Spokesperson on the subject of fertility
Reporting To / RCOG Media and PR Department and supported by the College’s Patient Experience and Public Engagement Facilitator
Duration Of Appointment / To be agreed
Purpose and Description of Role
The RCOG is looking to raise our media profile and to extend the range of media outlets we gain coverage in, across TV, radio, print, online and social media. This will have benefits to professionals working in women’s health, but also in helping women and those who care for them to better understand their health.
We are keen to increase our list of spokespeople as a key element in achieving these aims.Our spokespeople will include experts in general obstetrics and/or gynaecology; specialists in specific areas of obstetrics and/or gynaecology; and lay spokespeople, for example women who have personal experience of specific areas of obstetrics and/or gynaecology. This role description is for a lay spokesperson to speak about fertility.
Our spokespeople will be invited to speak to the media on our behalf when a suitable story arises. We aim to have at least two spokespeople to cover each topic we are likely to receive media enquiries about. We are also looking to develop a list of spokespeople to cover broader health related topics where we have not previously engaged with the media pro-actively, for example in the areas of mental health, sex and relationship education and public health.
Main Responsibilities
One of the main themes the College is often asked to discuss and comment on in the media is fertility. Therefore we are particularly looking for someone with recent experience of fertility issues to join us as a volunteer lay spokesperson. The individual must feel comfortable to share their story publically across print, broadcast, digital and social media.
Once a lay spokesperson for fertility has been agreed and has received the necessary media training, they will be invited to represent us in the media, as and when requested to do so.
This will usually entail them being interviewed by a journalist about a specific topic or current news story or involve them putting their name to a quote or an article, e.g. for a newspaper or magazine.This might either be a form of words they write themselves or that we write for them and they agree to.
Case studies are invaluable to the media, as their readers, listeners or viewers are always interested to hear other people speak about their personal experiences, especially when these experiences are relevant to them.
Lay spokespeople are also excellent at communicating complex subjects in a clear, understandable way, which often helps the journalist to understand that subjectas much as it does their audiences.
What Our Spokespeople Can Expect From Us
We will ensure that all of our spokespeople receive appropriate media training before undertaking any media work on our behalf.
We will agree with each spokesperson, in advance of them doing any interviews, what subjects they are best placed to talk about and what type of interviews they are happy to undertake, e.g. interviews on a live or pre-recorded TV or radio show, or for a print publication. We will also determine what times, days and dates they are available for interview. Knowing these factors in advance will help us to choose the most appropriate spokespeople for every interview.
We will ensure that when we ask a spokesperson to undertake any media work on our behalf, we will give them as much notice as possible in advance. Please note, however, that the notice period for some media activity can be very short, especially when this relates to a current news story.
We will always brief a spokesperson thoroughly in advance of them undertaking any media activity on our behalf. This will include background information on the subject we are asking them to speak about; background information on the length, format, location and time etc. of the interview; guidance on the RCOG’s position on the topic we are asking them to speak about; and guidance on what to say to the journalist in response to a range of expected questions.
We will ensure that a member of the PR team is available to brief and/or debrief the spokesperson before and/or after the interview and, if required, be present at the interview. We will also ensure that we find out from the spokesperson how the interview went and offer constructive feedback, as appropriate, to help them develop their skills as a spokesperson.
We will ensure that the spokesperson is informed when the interview, quoteor article is published or broadcast and, where relevant, told which parts of their contribution were used. Whenever possible, we will seek to give thespokespersona copy of the interview as it appears in the media, e.g. as a newspaper or magazine articleor a clip or transcript from a TV or radio show.
We will endeavour to keep all of our spokespeople updated, wherever possible, about developments in the area(s) in which they have agreed to speak on the RCOG’s behalf.
Although this is a voluntary role, we will ensure our spokespeople are remunerated for any expenses that occur as a result of their involvement, both during training and in practice, in line with the RCOG’s expenses policy. Any necessary travel will, where possible, be arranged through the College’s central booking system so that lay spokespeople are not left out of pocket.
What We Expect From Our Spokespeople
We expect our spokespeople to always represent the views of the RCOG in any work they undertake with the media.
We expect our spokespeople to stay “on message” in terms of the views they express in an interview, based upon the briefing/guidance they have been given in advance of the interview.
We expect our spokespeople to behave in a professional manner whenever they represent the Royal College, including when undertaking any work with the media.
We expect our spokespeople to give us as much notice as possible if they are unable to take part in any media activity to which they have previously committed. This will make it easier for us to find a replacement spokesperson to undertake the interview in these circumstances.
Similarly, we expect our spokespeople to give us as much notice as possible if they are unable to continue as a spokesperson on our behalf. Again, this will make it easier for us to find a replacement spokesperson for the topic(s) they speak to the media about on our behalf.
We expect our spokespeople to accept any constructive feedback we give them after an interview, as and when appropriate, as this is designed to help them develop their skills as a spokesperson.
If You Would Like To Be A Lay Spokesperson For the RCOG
If you would like to be a lay spokesperson for the RCOG on the area of fertility, please express your interest by submitting a shortpersonal statement in the attached application form. You should outline your particular experience relating to fertility and why you would like to become a spokesperson for the College.Please also give contact information that is requested.
Following this we will invite those who have expressed an interest to have a short chat with representatives from the College on Skype to discuss the role further.
Please email your completed application form to: midnight on Sunday 7th June 2015.
If you would like to discuss this role further before expressing your interest, please get in touch by email or telephone.
Telephone: 0207 772 6443
Matthew Miles
Patient Experience and Public Engagement Facilitator
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
27 Sussex Place
Regents Park
London
NW1 4RG