Reference: Turk, Judy VanSlyke (1986). Public Relations' Influence on the News. Newspaper Research Journal. 7(4), 15-27.
By: James Delli Gatti
Theme:
The sharing of information with the media has a high level of influence to the news reported by journalists.
Summary:
· This article summarizes a study to examine how much influence the PIO has on daily newspaper content through the information they provide to journalists.
· The world presented to the public is a reflection of the medias own construction of reality and not a mirror of reality.
· The sources of information (i.e. PIOs and government information officials) and the interaction between source and journalist have as much to do with the media's selection process for information presentation as does the journalists values and the media agenda.
· About half of the information provided by PIOs was used in subsequent stories.
· The topics identified by PIOs as significant were the same topics given significance in media coverage.
Application to the lesson topic:
Sources do have influence on the medias construction of reality. Journalists were heavily influenced by information from PIO sources. There are multiple influences on the medial agenda.
Application to Emergency Services:
The role of PIO and journalist influence the information communicated to the public. The information that the incident commander wants and needs conveyed to the public regarding specific emergency situations is relayed through the PIO to the media creating a reflection of the scenario. Information presented by the PIO is often seen as more factual and reliable than other sources.
