– same problem exists with army
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has written to Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene expressing its concern about the service being provided to the media by the Public Relations Department of the Guyana Police Force and recommending the provision of detailed bulletins three times a day.
The letter, dated June 18, 2008, was copied to the Guyana Defence Force, among others, and the GPA also registered its disappointment with the service provided by the public relations department of the army in more recent times.
The principal complaint related to the lack of expedition in the issuing of news releases to media houses, impeding their ability to disseminate accurate information on a timely basis. The provision of accurate information at the security forces’ immediate disposal, said the association, was “a first and important step in the communication process to dispel rumours and other falsehoods.”
Expanding on the theme of timeliness, the GPA said that its records showed that on numerous occasions, bulletins about incidents, which had occurred the previous day or early the same day, were only issued around 6 pm that day, or even not until the following day.
The media association illustrated its point by citing, among others, the case of the operation at Christmas Falls, where although the Joint Services confronted the gunmen at 7 am on June 6, a news release on the matter was not issued until June 7 at 6.17 pm. This, the letter said, was evidence of the poor quality of the media relations of both the GPF and the GDF.
“Given this state of affairs,” the letter continued, “the GPA can only logically conclude that most efforts, especially those through the assistance of the United Kingdom (UK) government to improve the working relationship between the police and the media have been futile.” The association also said it was apparent that the discussions concerning the media’s needs, which had taken place in workshops, had not been shared with the GDF.
The association went on to refer to the fact that in addition to the police and army, the media derived information from members of the public, but when confirmation of that information was sought from the two security services, they would indicate that they did not know. Yet some hours later or even the next day, the facts would be verified in a press release. The GPA also said that it was in the process of investigating “whether information which is to be used in news releases is being provided by national security related personnel to sections of the media in advance on a preferential basis.”
The GPA reminded the police that the various media houses had different deadlines, and that some, such as the radio station, a number of television stations and foreign news agencies had more than one newscast in the course of the day.
Various recommendations were put forward by the association for rectifying the defects in the service provided by the Joint Services, beginning with the provision of initial bulletins on all major incidents and accidents, covering the number of persons killed, injured, arrested or detained, and where they occurred.
Late-breaking news aside, it was suggested that detailed bulletins be issued three times a day, and time-coded digital photographs and video recordings of key aspects of Joint Services operations be provided.
It was recommended that news conferences be held when there were significant incidents, and editors e-mailed or telephoned if there was a late-breaking occurrence. In respect of the accessibility of police personnel who had information, it was proposed that other functionaries in the Public Relations Department, and not just the Public Relations Officer, be in a position to supply basic newsworthy data. In addition, their cellular phone numbers should be made available to members of the media, and the latter’s calls accepted at all times. For their part, the media should reciprocate by providing their numbers to the PRO. Senior officers too, the letter added, should always be in a position to accept telephone calls and offer timely clarifications or updates.
The GPA reminded the Commissioner that news releases were not only for the benefit of the newspapers, but also for the electronic media and foreign news agencies, which provided content throughout the day “for publication the same day, as distinct from the next day.”
In conclusion, the letter said that if the GPA’s recommendations were implemented, the association believed “that they will complement the laudable relationship that many journalists and editors enjoy with several Police Commanders.”
