The finance officer and the press: developing a successful relationship.(Management & Careers)

Not long ago, I received a call from a newspaper reporter who covered my jurisdiction during the last budget process. The reporter asked if I would be interested in going to lunch to talk about a possible story. The reporter and I share a fair amount of respect for each other and we had managed to craft a good working relationship during a very difficult budget process, so I knew that this phone call was something I needed to take seriously.

The reporter and I agreed to meet the following day at a nearby restaurant. We got down to business after ordering our meal. The potential story was about possible financial malfeasance by an employee using a government-issued credit card. The rumor appeared to mirror a recent situation in a neighboring jurisdiction that had received a great deal of negative publicity. I replied (truthfully) that the issue had not crossed my desk and that I would call back once I had followed up.

Upon returning to the office, I reported on my lunch meeting to my supervisor, who proceeded to verify with our accounting office whether any issues had arisen regarding credit card misuse. Once we had established that nothing had been reported or observed, I called the reporter and told her that nothing had come to our attention and that we had no information to confirm her rumor. She thanked me for getting back to her quickly and promised to let me know if the newspaper decided to run a story or if there were any other developments. The reporter called about a week later, indicating that the newspaper had decided not to proceed with the story.

This anecdote is presented as a case study for government finance officials looking to craft an effective working relationship with the press. Understanding the role and interests of the media and developing strategies that foster a mutually beneficial relationship is key to the successful tenure of any finance officer. Years of working with the press have taught me the value of developing a positive relationship based on respect and a degree of trust, while at the same time reinforcing the importance of understanding the challenges facing most journalists when it comes to reporting on matters related to public finance. This article discusses areas of emphasis that public finance officials should incorporate when considering their interaction with the media.

THE FOURTH ESTATE

The press is an important conduit in the flow of information between government and the public. Newspapers, television, and radio play the role of the modern day "town crier," disseminating information about upcoming events and deadlines and providing a window for residents on the goings-on at the local government center. Moreover, a free and independent press is a core attribute of an open society. The Project for Excellence in Journalism effectively summarizes this principle on its journalism.org Web site, a portal for people interested in journalism and the media: "The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society."

This statement illustrates the dual role played by the media in American society. While this role is not necessarily contradictory, situations arise in which one aspect of the press is emphasized over another. The provision of information to a community's residents can range from the simple conveyance of announcements to serious investigative reporting on issues or even the occasional scandal.