NCJ Number
61654
Journal
Police Review Volume: 87 Dated: (JUNE 15, 1979) Pages: 931,933-936
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND THE PRESS, AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, ARE DISCUSSED BY A FORMER CHIEF CRIME REPORTER FOR A BRITISH NEWSPAPER.
Abstract
IN THE PAST, POLICE SUSPICION AND HOSTILITY TOWARD THE NEWS MEDIA RESULTED FROM ADVERSE PUBLICITY GIVEN TO MISTAKES MADE BY THE POLICE. CURRENTLY, DESPITE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIA REPORTING OF POLICE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS ESTABLISHMENT OF PRESS LIAISON BRANCHES WITHIN POLICE AGENCIES, AN APPROPRIATE FLOW OF INFORMATION TO THE MEDIA DOES NOT OCCUR. POLICE TRAINING STILL SEEMS TO MAKE POLICE AUTOMATICALLY HOSTILE BOTH TO THE MEDIA AND TO THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS WHO ARE DESIGNATED PRESS LIAISON OFFICERS. OFTEN, ONLY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL REPORTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS PRODUCE THE KIND OF COOPERATION WHICH SHOULD EXIST OFFICIALLY. BECAUSE MANY POLITICAL AND CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS TRY TO UNDERMINE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE LAW, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR POLICE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE OFFICIAL BRANCHES WHICH FRANKLY AND OPENLY PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE MEDIA. IF OFFICIAL SOURCES ARE CLOSED, THE MEDIA WILL SEEK INFORMATION THROUGH UNOFFICIAL SOURCES. POSITIVE POLICE-PRESS RELATIONS WOULD BENEFIT BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE; RECENT CASES INVOLVING TERRORIST ACTIVITY AND SCOTLAND YARD ILLUSTRATE THESE BENEFITS. TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA, POLICE PRESS LIAISON OFFICERS SHOULD READ ALL THE RELEVANT MEDIA AND USE THIS KNOWLEDGE IN DEALING WITH THE MEDIA. LIAISON OFFICERS ALSO SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE NEED FOR PROPER TIMING, PROMPT ISSUANCE OF PHOTOGRAPHS, AND ISSUANCE OF IMMEDIATE RESPONSES TO VERBAL ATTACKS ON THE POLICE. IN ADDITION, FOR EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING, THE PRESS LIAISON SERVICE MUST OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY, MUST BE ABLE TO SUPPLY QUICK ANSWERS DURING MAIN BROADCAST AND PUBLICATION PERIODS, AND MUST HAVE A TOP RANKING OFFICER AVAILABLE TO GIVE AN OFFICIAL REPLY ON URGENT MATTERS AT ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT. SUCH CHANGES WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE PRESENT UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF POLICE-PRESS RELATIONS. (CFW)