The role of the Police PIO
Assess the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO). All three criminal justice components employ Public Information Officers (PIOs).
See the articles below on the role of Police PIO’s along with the videos of Police PIO’s being interviewed by the local media and answer the two questions that follows:
• Tompkins, A. (2018, September 5). SPJ research suggests that a surge in PIOs negatively impacts journalism. Poynter Institute. – website article
• Janzer, C. (2019, May 20). How to deal with obstructive public information officers? Challenge them. Columbia Journalism Review. [Critical piece by journalist about PIOs] – website article
• Carlson, C. S., & Cuillier, D. (2017). Public information officers exert increasing controls. Newspaper Research Journal, 38(2), 198-214. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739532917716172 – website article
• Dukkhaboy [screenname]. (2013, January 28). Interview with Gregory R. Bergensen – Valley State Prison for Women – Chowchilla, CA. [Example of PIO being pressed by protesters under challenging conditions] – YouTube Video [6:21]
• ABC10. (2019, January 11). RAW: Davis Police Department provides update on shooting death of Officer Corona – YouTube Video [7:45]
• Sacramento Bee. (2019, January 12). What happened in the shooting of Natalie Corona? New details from Davis police – YouTube Video [4:11]
• Society of Professional Journalists. (n.d.). Public information officers: Who they are, why they’re a problem for journalists and the public, and what we’re doing about it. – website article
1. What is the role of the Police PIO?
2. Are Police PIOs just a “firewall” to prevent the media from getting to the top administrators, i.e., the police chief, sheriff, etc. as proffered in these articles?
