I was working on a story for the Guardian last month about a proposal to introduce universal free school meals when I rang a school, which already offers them, and asked to speak to the headteacher.
“He doesn’t give press interviews,” the receptionist told me. “He never speaks to the media?” I asked, surprised. “No, never. He just wouldn’t do that.” She sounded almost proud.
This kind of reaction isn’t uncommon. Some school leaders avoid talking to journalists because they’ve had a “bad experience” – from having their name or school name spelt incorrectly to being misquoted (serious, but rare). But instead of trying to build bridges with journalists – or investing in media training – many simply bury their heads in the sand.
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