Police Seek to Control Narrative and Counter Media Distortion

The New Zealand Police are evaluating new communication strategies to manage the organization’s public image, citing a decline in the availability of traditional media outlets.

The organization is exploring ways to communicate directly with the public to ensure that information regarding the fundamentals of the organisation is delivered without the influence of third-party reporting. This initiative is a response to what police describe as a depleted media landscape, where a reduction in journalistic resources may impact the accuracy or framing of news stories.

According to reporting from RNZ, the police are seeking to mitigate the impact of external media sources that they believe may present distorted angles of their work. By establishing more direct channels of communication, the police intend to provide a more controlled account of their operations and organizational goals.

Police are looking at opportunities to “control their narrative ensuring the public are exposed to the fundamentals of the organisation rather than the distorted angles sometimes presented by external media sources”.

RNZ

Shift Toward Direct Communication

The move toward controlling the organizational narrative involves a shift toward digital and audio-based media. The police are considering the use of podcasts and other audio formats to reach the public directly, bypassing the traditional editorial process of newsrooms.

This approach allows the organization to present detailed information on its policies, procedures, and daily activities in a format that is not subject to the constraints or interpretations of external journalists. The use of direct-to-consumer content is intended to provide a clearer understanding of the police force’s internal functions and public-facing missions.

Impact of the Media Landscape

The decision to pursue these new communication methods is tied to the current state of the news industry. The police have noted that the shrinking size of traditional newsrooms has created a landscape where the organization feels it can no longer rely on external media to convey its message accurately.

By developing their own media capabilities, the New Zealand Police aim to fill the gap left by the depleted media landscape, ensuring that the public has access to information that the organization deems essential and accurate.