The public is not getting the information it needs because of barriers agencies are imposing on journalists’ reporting practices. That’s the message backed by seven in 10 journalists in a Society of Professional Journalists survey of 146 D.C.-area reporters.
Public affairs officers are getting most of the blame for interfering with journalists collecting information on the federal government, according to the survey.
Two-thirds of reporters said federal agencies prohibit them from interviewing employees some or most of the time, while three-quarters said they have to get PAO approval.
Source: SPJ |
SPJ presidents John Ensslin said the findings were not surprising but show a “dismaying” trend.
“The strategy of spokespeople acting as the spigots of that information inevitably backfires by fostering leaks and intrigue instead of all the sunshine and full disclosure,” he said.
When interviews are granted, PAOs are often monitoring the exchanges as 84 percent of journalists surveyed said a PR staffer is present in person or over the phone during interviews.
Despite the apparent frustration, 70 percent said they have a positive relationship with the PAOs they deal with and most said the PAOs are quick to respond to queries most of the time. View the full report (PDF).
"Speaking from 30 years of experience in government public affairs - military, federal and state levels - I can honestly say that it is not the policy of the government public affairs to spin or control information, but to facilitate its timely and accurate release," John Verrico, director of professional development for the National Association of Government Communicators and a PAO for the Dept. of Homeland Security, told O'Dwyer's.
Verrico said PAOs should be considered "a journalist's best friend." He sees the PAO role as that of a "facilitator, not a blockade to a story."
Verrico noted the "luxury" of media outlets having a dedicated beat reporter has become rare, so government spokespersons are working with general assignment reporters more often than not.
"For a reporter just coming onto a topic for the first time, it is beneficial to have someone to turn to for clarity and context that may not be apparent in a subject-matter-expert's initial response to a question," he said. "It does no one any good if a story is inaccurate or incomplete or if the information is misunderstood."