Challenges and Changes in Police-Media Relations: A Journalist's Perspective

Is the marriage on the rocks? A snapshot of journalists experiences with the new police communications model. Fran Tyler, Massey University

The relationship between police and the media A marriage of convenience but not always a happy one The media rely on police for crime stories The police rely on the media for help in detection and prevention of crime But also promotion of a positive image of policing work (Cook & Sturges, 2009, p. 407)

Change Changes in technology and a emphasis on promoting a positive public image has seen a change in the late 20thand early 21stcenturies in the way police communicate with the media. (Surette, 2001, Mawbry, 2010, Lee & McGovern ,2013) One significant change is the creation of centralised and professionalised media and public relations units. (Lee & McGovern, 2013) There has been a move across police in Western countries to limit individual officer relationships with media and put a stop to dissemination of information between officers and reporters outside of official communications channels (Ellis & McGovern, 2016, p. 948)

2015 Police media survey of journalists (n=300) 54 percent said it was not working Inconsistent approach around the country No centralised points of contact multiple phone numbers and emails Impossible to get information out of office hours Too slow and not responsive (Source, Police Media Unit)

The new model (from May 2016) Centralised Police Media Unit based in Wellington Operates from 6am to 11pm 11 staff working on rostered basis Additional media hub in Auckland Operates from 9am to 5pm 3 staff Operates seven days a week, 365 days a year No change to police spokesperson policy

My research RQ. What is the impact on journalists on the new model? Kiwi Journalists Association Facebook page postings. Posted a request for comments on KJA Facebook page. Contacted posters individually. Contacted reporters directly.

Facebook posts, (68 comments, 33 journalists) No, delayed or poor responses (18) Need for formal complaint or action (11) Deliberate public relations strategy (9) Lack of daily or weekly local police briefings (9) Supportive of media centre (6) Police refuse to speak to media direct questions to media unit (5) Poor relationship (5) Still have daily or weekly local police briefings (4) Police speak (3) Preferential treatment given to big news organisations (1) Informational (1)

Personal responses (14 responses) No, delayed or poor responses (12) Police officers refused to talk directed to media unit (8) Need to submit an OIA to get information (3) Police only helpful if it s a good news story (3)

A snapshot of comments I've been flabbergasted at the hamstringing attitude local cops try to say all queries must be directed to the media centre It's now routine for them to say nothing's happening, only for the newsroom to find out something rather major has happened. The new media model adopted by police has been been obstructive more often than not. Our cops no longer talk to us despite assurances there's no gag order against talking to media

like getting blood from a stone in some cases... Emailed responses generally lack sufficient details, don't answer questions adequately, or require further follow ups. I've got a couple of police contacts but they are loathe to look anything up as, God forbid, a release of public information could be tracked back to them. I'm sure others have said.. but we can't contact police comms now until after 6am.. and even then they very rarely give out any information. The tone on the phone is defensive and aggressive. Media are treated like the enemy these days. The good mutual relationship we used to have is long gone.

Examples About an hour ago I received a a Facebook message from a friend - a screenshot of someone claiming there had been a shooting and a woman was dead. A quick search of local pages found dozens of similar posts, including reports of police, fire, and ambo on a particular street. I immediately called the late-shift reporter, who said she had spoken with police comms and they told her nothing was happening. (TWO people were actually dead)

Examples Even this morning, with that fatal car explosion in XXX..., police comms centre, where we used to be given information, tell us to call the new media hub, which doesn't get in until six... then we get told by them they won't have anything until after 8.. etc, etc.. for something that happened at 9 o'clock the night before.

Examples In 2004 we organised that we could attend the daily morning (police) meeting where overnight incidents were raised and then after the meeting we were allowed to ask about what we were interested in. Then this policeman arrived here and stopped that. From then on it has been a slippery slide downhill. The commander actually told us, when we complained, we had no access to information (and) that the public perception of crime was not good if we report the crime. So now we have a situation where we are nearly 100 percent reliant on social media and people telling us about stuff. Then we go to police and our police reporter is like a terrier with a bone and never gives up . So eventually we do get a story about things we ask about never on the same day.

Examples It's harder to build relationships with the police, and that's really hard for me as a Maori reporter because face-to-face and calling etc is a cultural thing as well as a sign of accountability and respect. As Maori we are often part of the communities we report in, no matter what sector, and these relationships go hand in hand. It's not often now I can call an officer and get an interview because they've been instructed to palm us off to comms. Some Maori officers seem embarrassed saying this too, because they know it's stink.

OIAs We're asked to OIA questions that should get a simple response. A colleague had an OIA response about police numbers, when she asked for clarifications on some data that wasn't clear, she was made to submit another OIA. When she asked the area commander for comment, she was referred to the media team, who told her to submit another OIA for comment. They backtracked on that after she told them she would be publishing the data regardless and eventually gave her comment. Nearly everything these days "can't be provided" or will need an OIA.

Supportive I have always had a quality experience when dealing with the police media team and wonder if some journos have unrealistic expectations, especially when situations are developing. I find the Wellington police media team to be quick and effective if I give them a time and place for an event. It was hit and miss previously. The Wellington team are always polite and write good releases. I find them generally very good to deal with.

Example - A consequence? To be honest I would go so far as to say that since the changes, there has been a huge increase in crime in my town. I'm not sure if the correlation is directly linked to the changes. But it is interesting. There's no longer any regular publicity when crime occurs now and that's because you can no longer talk to local police without going through the media centre - so it's become a case of it's now so difficult to report on crime, that we just don't bother. I went from having weekly meetings with my local police station. To being told they couldn't meet with me ever and I had to go through their media center to ask questions. If anything the changes really have made me realise just how important reporting on crime was in terms of its ability to deter crime, now that we can't. If only NZ Police would realise this.

Another example - a loss of trust, a legal risk There is now a lack of trust on both sides because we no longer deal with the cops in charge they get no sense of who they can trust. It also had an unintended side effect. Because they won't provide us with sometimes the most basic information, we are now more likely to knock on victim's doors, or neighbours (who may or may not be witnesses), take video of the scene and, given our resources seem better placed than the police, we sometimes do this ahead of them. I think at some stage us getting to victims/witnesses ahead of the police is going to result in a public media statement that contradicts what is said in an official police statement - potentially leading to problems if there is a prosecution. There used to be a game played - we and the police knew each other and - to a degree - worked together. It's changed and as we now work in isolation from each other we have lost respect.

Conclusion The police s need to control information in order to preserve a corporate reputation, may be leading to the opposite as the trust in the unhappy marriage disappears and journalists find other sources for crime news or don t report crime at all. Many journalists feel they are not be being given the information they need to fully inform the public.

References Cooke, L., & Sturges, P. (2009). Police and media relations in an era of freedom of information. Policing and Society, 19(4), 406-424. Ellis, J., & McGovern, A. (2016). The end of symbiosis? Australia police-media relations in the digital age. Policing and Society, 26(8), 944-962. Lee, M. & McGovern, A. (2013). Force to sell: policing the image and manufacturing public confidence. Policing and Society, 23(2), 103-124. Mawby, R.C., (2010). Police corporate communications, crime reporting and the shaping of policing news. Policing and Society, 20(1), 124-139. Surette, R., (2001). Public information officers: the civilianisation of a criminal justice Profession. Journal of Criminal Justice, 29(2), 107-117.

The first 12 months 50,000 emails 45,000 calls 230 calls on the busiest day (27 Feb 2017) 161 calls on Christmas Day

The old model in New Zealand (prior to 2016) Daily or weekly briefings at local police station Contact with individual police contacts for news tips On the scene or phone contact with OiC or other officers Regional media staff National headquarters for OIAs, policy issues or national data

Post 3 (April 17) Has anyone recently made a complaint to police hq about the way they handle media enquires? Had a really frustrating few days over Easter trying to get some routine information on a local accident. It's not the first time. It seems the police these days will provide help and access only if they believe they can get something out of it.

Post 3 responses 33 responses from 15 journalists Lack of daily or weekly local police briefings (9) No, delayed or poor responses (9) Need for formal complaint or action (4) Still have daily or weekly local police briefings (4) Deliberate public relations strategy (4) Preferential treatment given to big news organisations (1) Supportive of media centre (1) Informational (1)

Post 2 (April 25) Topic: Police media centre. Question(s): Are any members aware of a coordinated attempt to resolve issues with getting information from police media centre? Has anyone complained at all? Has anyone seen a positive change in their relationships/communications with the police Comms team? Reasoning: While I realise this topic has been raised frequently on KJA in the past, I haven't seen whether there has been a resolution to this issue. I know that the "best option" is to form good relationships with police staff, but in a breaking news situation at 8, 9, 10pm at night, or if you aren't the reporter assigned the the police round, then this won't necessarily be helpful. Happy to expand on the difficulties experienced in my newsroom today if it's of any interest to you all, just didn't want to write a novel if it is unnecessary.

Post 2 responses 30 relevant comments by 13 journalists. No, delayed or poor responses (9) Need for formal complaint or action (7) Supportive of media centre (5) Need to find alternative source for police info (4) Police speak (3) Poor relationship (1) Deliberate public relations strategy (1)