NCJ Number
186127
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 69 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2000 Pages: 22-24
Editor(s)
John E. Ott
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Because the media covers issues of public interest, police managers should recognize the importance of proactively using the media to get their department's message out to the community.
Abstract
Most public information officers (PIOs) and police spokespersons have a stable relationship with the media and a policy of openness and cooperation. When a newsworthy event occurs, PIOs should disseminate facts to the public as quickly as possible by bringing them to the attention of the media. To accomplish this, PIOs frequently use a news briefing. Pre-interview planning for the news briefing should involve analyzing the audience, anticipating questions, making a story interesting, and conducting a post-interview critique. PIOs can improve performance effectively by critically examining and critiquing their own actions and reactions after conducting a news briefing. In addition, PIOs should consider occasionally video recording a news briefing for later review to identify mannerisms or responses that can be improved to result in a more effective news briefing. 1 photograph