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Like It or Not: We Are News

NCJ Number
115618
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1989) Pages: 16-17
Author(s)
R J Koehler
Date Published
1989
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Because little in Government is as interesting as crime and punishment, corrections will continue to be in the public eye through newspapers, television, and radio.
Abstract
The public image of corrections is that portrayed by the media whether it is accurate or grossly distorted. Consequently it is important that corrections have a strong and focused public/press relations element within its organizations. An aggressive public information system, that regularly provides the media with interesting material, information, and stories, accomplishes a variety of purposes. It establishes regular contact between the department and the representative of the press. It also provides perspective and information both to the press and the public, enabling them to balance inevitable problems against successes and providing a more comprehensive picture of the complexities and difficulties that corrections faces. In addition to facilitating fairness in media coverage, a strong public information focus can provide corrections administrators with a forum for clarifying problems and elucidating major policy issues. By being open and aggressive with the media, corrections can be viewed as a professional and respectable element of Government and within the context of the larger social problems that inmates and our systems manifest. 2 photographs.

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