Public information officers exert increasing controls

Abstract

Journalists have long experienced a love-hate relationship with government public information officers (PIOs) in setting the public agenda, particularly at the federal level. Three surveys of journalists and PIOs examined whether government controls impact journalists’ gatekeeping roles. Results indicated that journalists felt PIO controls are increasing, that reporters covering federal agencies express the most frustration, and that PIOs at the federal level indicate the greatest need for controls over journalists.