Public service officers in the Quinte region, like police and firemen, are getting more media savvy – and that’s a problem.

What I mean is that they’re actually getting better at protecting their own interests. If I was their PR consultant, I’d be congratulating them. But I’m a reporter and I’m struggling to get the news. Protecting their interests may be what they have to do to perform their jobs, but it makes doing my job in the newsroom that much harder.

The Belleville Police story I wrote for this morning’s newscast was flimsy at best. It needed far more details to really be relevant to my listeners. But the problem I’m increasingly running into is if I call the Belleville Police station for more details, seldom does anyone answer the phone. If they do answer, I’m told that in the interests of remaining fair to all media, they will not give out any information other than what’s on the press release.

At least they’re issuing a daily press release.

Most stations are failing to even do that anymore. And even if I call a fire hall or provincial police detachment to check in, this is how a typical conversation goes:

“Good morning. It’s Jennifer Lester calling from CXXX radio in Cityville. May I speak to the duty sergeant with a media inquiry?”

“Good morning, Jennifer. Please hold…” “…The sergeant says there is nothing to report.”

This is standard even if I know there is something to report, having heard it through another source. For example, there was a fatal accident on highway 401 east of our listening area and I wanted to know if they’d yet released the name of the victim.

The dialogue above took place, and I had to follow it with:

“I’m actually calling with a specific inquiry for the duty sergeant about the fatal accident that happened on the 401 near Brockville yesterday.”

Usually a statement like this is responded to with a tight-lipped, “Please hold.”

My discouragement stems from a passionate defense of the public’s right to know. I understand that public servants may sometimes feel distracted from doing their job because I’m trying to do mine, but I wish they’d learn the difference between legitimate reporters and paparazzi.