CHAPTER 8: FORMING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE MEDIA
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right:
a.
against search and seizure.
b.
against-self incrimination.
c.
against cruel and unusual punishment.
d.
to free speech.
2. What type of relationship do the police and the media have?
a.
impartial
b.
opponents
c.
symbiotic
d.
reliant
3. Conflict:
a.
is always dysfunctional.
b.
can stimulate people to grow and change.
c.
never diffuses defensiveness; it only makes it worse.
d.
is symbiotic.
4. When deciding whether to allow the media to take photographs or shoot video at crime scenes, police
must consider important _______________ Amendment constraints.
a.
First
b.
Second
c.
Fourth
d.
Fifth
5. According to the text, news sources base their coverage of crime on the concept of:
a.
a competitive edge.
b.
top billing.
c.
crime sells.
d.
the police visibility beat.
6. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state public records laws:
a.
grant the media access to crime scenes.
b.
allow the public to choose which media sources they get their information from.
c.
govern what police can and cannot disclose to the media.
d.
mandate that information be withheld from the public.
7. According to the text, the Society of Professional Journalists contends that:
a.
law enforcement should share all information.
b.
law enforcement should allow the media inside during interrogations.
c.
the practice of telling victims they don’t have to talk to journalists will interfere with news
gathering.
d.
communities should receive real-time crime information.
8. The First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press is often incompatible with the
_______________ Amendment guarantee of the right to a fair trial and protection of the defendant’s
rights.
a.
First
b.
Second
c.
Fourth
d.
Sixth
9. According to the text, and depending upon the journalist, “off the record”:
a.
guarantees that anything said following that term will not be reported by the media.
b.
guarantees nothing.
c.
may make it more likely that the remarks will be published.
d.
both b and c
10. A soundbite:
a.
must contain good solid information.
b.
should speculate.
c.
should last at least 15 minutes.
d.
should save the most important information for last.
11. According to the text, police and the media share a common goal of:
a.
serving the public.
b.
enforcing the law.
c.
protecting information.
d.
being transparent.
12. In a law enforcement context, a PIO is a:
a.
police informant operator.
b.
public information officer.
c.
press insight operator.
d.
protocol and intelligence officer.
13. Police are guided by the _______________ Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the
individual the right to a fair trial.
a.
First
b.
Second
c.
Fourth
d.
Sixth
14. Police and media are mutually dependent upon each other. This is referred to as a _______________
relationship.
a.
codependent
b.
symbiotic
c.
parasitic
d.
commensality
15. When dealing with the media, it is important to remember that:
a.
you can say “no” to the media.
b.
you must protect children from interviews.
c.
you select the place and time for the interview.
d.
all of the above
16. The police have different priorities and perspectives from the media. The media depends upon the
police:
a.
for information about crime.
b.
to help them maintain a good public image.
c.
for professional and legal advice.
d.
all of the above
17. One way to enhance the media’s understanding of police work is to invite the local newspaper and
broadcast reporters to enroll in a:
a.
police speech class.
b.
citizens’ police academy.
c.
criminal justice class.
d.
none of the above
18. A major theme among media participants at a police–media workshop was their need to get
information from:
a.
the victims of crime.
b.
law enforcement.
c.
the witnesses.
d.
the suspects.
19. A reason for the conflict between the press and the police is:
a.
competing objectives.
b.
incongruity between constitutional guarantees.
c.
both a and b
d.
neither a nor b
20. According to the text, PIOs are officers trained in public relations who:
a.
control leaks of confidential or inaccurate details.
b.
manage controversial or negative situations to the department’s benefit.
c.
try to consistently provide accurate information to the media.
d.
all of the above
21. The _______________ Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for freedom of the press.
a.
First
b.
Second
c.
Fourth
d.
Sixth
22. A police–media relationship survey found that the one factor most affecting this relationship was:
a.
accessibility to police data and personnel.
b.
accessibility to victims.
c.
both a and b
d.
neither a nor b
23. According to the text, conflict between the media and law enforcement can:
a.
break communities apart.
b.
create conflict between the public and law enforcement.
c.
lead to lawsuits.
d.
be beneficial as it can lead to change.
24. What organization has created a new online Directory of Crime Victim Services, which links crime
victims and victim service providers to contact information for assistance 24/7?
a.
VOCA
b.
OVC
c.
NIJ
d.
OJJDP
25. What is an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act?
a.
when national security is involved
b.
when releasing information may compromise an investigation
c.
when individuals’ privacy may be violated
d.
all of the above
26. A fundamental source of conflict between the press and the police is:
a.
statements of witnesses/victims.
b.
competing objectives.
c.
perceived police silence about a case.
d.
perceived media interference.
27. If a law enforcement agency lies to the media, they risk:
a.
being sued.
b.
jeopardizing the investigation.
c.
losing the public’s trust.
d.
none of the above.
28. One tool that can help community policing achieve its mission through the media is the
______________, designed to proactively address specific crime and disorder issues that routinely
occur at certain times of the year.
a.
bimonthly press release
b.
seasonal press release
c.
yearly press release
d.
daily press release
29. Chermak and Weiss recommended: “Law enforcement agencies should implement and devise broad
marketing strategies to increase public awareness and involvement in –community policing activities.”
Which of the following was not one of their recommendations?
a.
Increase the amount of personnel and monetary resources to more effectively market
community policing.
b.
Broaden the training curriculum to include a discussion of more effective ways to market
community policing.
c.
Tell their stories of police contact to at least three other people.
d.
Conduct research that can effectively evaluate whether implementing a broad marketing
strategy is effective.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Any officer can make a good public information officer, as it does not matter who speaks to the media,
just as long as the media receive the proper information.
2. During media interviews, if you do not know an answer or are restricted from giving one, it is best to
use “no comment” and avoid further explanation.
3. An exception to the Freedom of Information Act that allows police to restrict the free flow of
information is when the integrity of an investigation and/or subsequent prosecution could be
jeopardized.
4. Law enforcement agencies should be aware the media may sometimes distort information from the
police for a political purpose
5. According to the text, a healthy conflict between the press and the police is necessary and beneficial.
6. “Live Coverage Agreements” urge the media to air live pictures of officers at a major crime scene.
7. Officers who are interviewed should learn to avoid speaking in soundbites.
8. The police practice of parading suspects before the media is called a perp walk.
9. Surveys have found that the factor most affecting the relationship between police and the media was
accessibility to police data and personnel.
10. Officers may not care for the media but should still meet with the media to discuss rules of safety in
order to develop a general policy.
11. Instead of “no comment,” it is better to use one of the recommended examples: “That’s -currently
under investigation, so I can’t get into that right now”; “I’d like to tell you more, but I don’t want to
jeopardize the case”; or “I’m sorry, but I’m not authorized to release that at this time.”
12. According to the text, a professional PIO can be a helpful source for the efficient, timely transmission
of information.
13. The “perp walk” serves as visible evidence of the process of justice.
14. If a potentially dangerous situation is unfolding, and the police and the media are both on the scene,
officers should always demand that journalists stay away.
15. The Freedom of Information Act does not allow police to restrict the free flow of information in cases
where someone’s safety could be jeopardized.
16. A good rapport with the media can also help the police department accomplish its mission because
improved media relations lead to improved community relations.
17. The Freedom of Information Act replaced the people’s “right to know” standard by a “need to know”
doctrine.
18. A good way to improve the law enforcement and media relations is to have members of the media ride
along with officers.
19. Research referred to in the text shows that police departments are clearly missing an -opportunity to
promote community policing in the news.
20. The police and members of the media share the common goal of serving the public.
SHORT ANSWER
1. The ________________ is the impact highly publicized cases can have on the justice system.
2. Pictures that are kept indefinitely by the media are referred to as ________________.
3. Some departments discourage individual officers from talking to reporters and instead -designate a
________________ to disseminate all information to the media.
4. According to the text, hundreds of departments across the country now maintain a presence on
________________.
5. A healthy conflict between the media and the police is _____________ and _______________.
6. The ________________ was a common police practice, where suspects were paraded before the TV
cameras.
7. The ________________ establishes the presumption that the records of the agencies and departments
of the U.S. government are accessible to the people.
8. ________________ are good, solid information that is stated briefly, within 7 to 12 seconds.
ESSAY
1. Explain the news media echo effect.
2. Discuss the controversy surrounding the distribution of media relations advisory cards.
3. According to the text, the media has had an impact on the criminal justice system. Discuss the impacts
on law enforcement.
4. Describe “perp walks,” and explain their current legal standard. How do courts and law enforcement
agencies regard this practice today, compared with in the past?
5. Discuss why it is not a good idea to lie to the media and when it might be necessary to do so.