My media strategy for the prison would be predicated on the concept of a circumspect and expedient balancing act. The strictness of the laws, rules, and regulations that govern American prisons do not favor the creation of the impression of transparency (Carlson & Garrett, 2008). At the same time, however, it is important for any public organization that is funded by tax-payers to exhibit an element of transparency or in the very least, not to seem to be covering up issues (Shafritz et al., 2016). The balancing act indicated above relates to seeking to be as transparent as possible while remaining within the limitations that are provided for by the law. This balancing act would include a high level of direct media availability and access for prison staff combined by an indirect access for the prisoners, including through their loved ones for collaboration.
The allegation being combated at the prison is that senior members of staff lack candor when addressing recent issues within the prison. It would be wrong and unconstitutional for the public officers to deliver fallacies and half-truths to the media on any issues as provided for by the First Amendment of the US constitution (Shafritz et al., 2016). However, even when the senior staff is telling the truth about a newsworthy topic, media houses are bound to doubt this truth unless they can find a means for collaborating it. The scenario is exacerbated by the proliferation of modern information technology that allows prisoners to use social media to disseminate information from inside prisons according to Wiltz (2017). More often than not, the information disseminated by the prisoners will seek to contradict the version given by the prison administrators thus, augmenting the perception that there are cover-ups .
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Two important issues a rise from the statement above both of which need to be in the media strategy. The first issue is absolute honesty while the second is collaboration. With regard to the first issue, the law is definitive and thus will be followed to the later under the new strategy to the effect that absolute honesty must be the policy at all times when dealing with the media (Shafritz et al., 2016). A public information officer must, however, understand how damaging blunt honesty can be to an institution. A circumspect approach will then be used where the facts that are to be released to the media houses need to be organized in a manner that they present the whole truth but in a perspective that is favorable, or in the very least not damaging to the system.
The collaborative aspect of the strategy is more complicated since prison authorities cannot expressly allow the media to directly access prisoners. The Supreme Court decision in Procunier v. Martinez 416 US 396 (1974) , while supporting not giving the media direct access to prisoners, supports using indirect access (Procunier v. Martinez, n.d.). Among the indirect forms of access provided for in the case include uncensored communication with media houses and also unfettered access to the sharing of information by loved ones such as family members. The media can then have unlimited access to the loved ones who have communicated directly with the prisoners (Carlson & Garrett, 2008). Allowing for the collaboration system is not good enough hence the strategy should include encouraging for the system to be used. For example, when an incident happens, the prison would publicly encourage family members and loved ones to verify facts for themselves by visiting the prison.
It would be easier and better if prisons would just be open books where arising issues could be openly canvassed and media houses could conduct open investigations. However, prisons serve a specific purpose that includes a limitation of the rights and privileges of the incarcerated. Further, prisons are highly secured institutions that have to limit the flow of some of the information to ensure security (Carlson & Garrett, 2008). At the same time, prisons are public institutions run using taxpayers monies hence the need to both be candid and be considered as candid by the public. To be considered as candid while still adhering to available laws, my media strategy will use the careful balancing act that uses truth and collaboration while remaining within the law.
References
Carlson, P. M., & Garrett, J. S. (2008). Prison and jail administration: Practice and theory (2nd ed.) . Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Pub
Procunier v. Martinez. (n.d.). Oyez . Retrieved June 14, 2018, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1973/72-1465
Shafritz, J. M., Borick, C., Russell, E. W., & Hyde, A. C. (2016). Introducing public administration . New York: Routledge
Wiltz, T. (2017). Social media in prison. Retrieved from http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2017/01/13/should-social-media-be-banned-in-prison
