POLICE MEDIA

RELATIONS

The relations between the

POLICE and the MEDIA

An issue for more than a

decade

Reason

They are similar with the cats and

dogs

Situation

Law Enforcement Policy

to give as little information as possible

Media Policy
to broadcast facts, to uncover information

Purposes of both entities

to serve the public

Method of Survival
Media to uncover information
Police not to divulge information

THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE

POLICE

Secrecy

MEDIA

Reveal

(Sekreta)

CREATION OF

IMPORVED AND DEVELOPED

POLICE INFORMATION OFFICE

RESPONSIBILITIES
LAW ENFORCEMENT LIAISON TO THE
MEDIA
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION
COORDINATE THE DESSIMINATION OF
INTERDEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION
SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS
*

positive relationship of the police can be

pushed
By relaying accurate and timely
information to

Accurate and timely information can prevent the media

from obtaining

news stuffs from other sources which may be antipolice

Media outlet

News papers
Television
Radio
Internet

TIPS FOR IMPROVING POLICE MEDIA

RELATIONS
*Media

exposure
*Open door policy
*Looking good in front of the media
*Open lines of communication
*Developing empathy
*Satisfy the needs of the media

HOW TO BRIDGE THE GAP

Be proactive in dealing with the media
Be aware of lead times
Send announcement to appropriate media outlet
Dont send your news release and forget about it
Dont call an editor or reporter if they are on deadlines
Be available when reporter call
Tell the news media why your news release is
important to readers and viewers

STEPS TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE MEDIA

Develop a media resource

inventory
Design an overall media plan
Make contact with the right
people
Keep an organized record of all
contact and coverage

Tips for Handling Reporters

Dont use jargons
Dont say no comment
Be pro-active
Be careful of how you use numbers
Be relentlessly and aggressively
positive about your position
Look at the question as a jumping off
point, not as a limiting parameters
Tell anecdotes
Use your clients as testimonials

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH THE MEDIA

*HAVE PRESS KIT READY IN ADVANCE
*PREPARE SHORT QOUTABLE PASSAGES
*PRACTICE DEALING WITH REPORTERS
*USE HUMOR IF YOU HAVE IT
*THERES NO SHAME IN SAYING HONESTLY I DONT KNOW
*IF THERE IS A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION YOU MAY ASK TO
THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE
*PRESS THE POSITIVE SIDE OF WHAT YOU DO
*PLAN AHEAD
*UTILIZE ONE CONSISTENT SPOKESPERSON
*NEVER TASLK OFF THE RECORD
DONT ASK TO SEE THE STORY BEFORE IT GO TO PRESS

Law Enforcement Responsibilities

Be more proactive
Train officers to interact with the
media
Be honest and more open
Educate media on law enforcement
policy
Create a full-time PIO position

Law Enforcement Expectations from the

Media
More honesty and accuracy
Train reporters to interact with officers
Stop-over sensationalizing events
Stop slanting stories to make law
enforcement look bad
Reports on positive stories, make corrections
Meet the staff members regularly

The Media Expectations from the Police

Impartiality
Honesty
Proactively
Self-promotion
Fairness
Acknowledgement of the public records