Public Officials Liability: Communicating With the Press

A significant portion of the U.S. workforce is employed by some type of governmental entity whose purpose is to provide certain services. All decisions made by public officials carry the potential of a damaging lawsuit, which is why having Public Officials Liability Insurance is so important. It’s also imperative that public officials be aware of how their messages are conveyed to their community, and understand the important role that the media plays in message delivery.

The primary goal of both the media and public officials is to give the public information about their government. By communicating with the press in an ethical and professional manner, these two entities can help each other with that goal. Here are guidelines that public officials should follow when interacting with media correspondents.

Create a culture of accountability: It’s a wise decision for public officials to make the press their ally in making sure their community understands what they are doing, and why. They should support the media in reporting on issues that the public has the right to know about.

Tell the truth and tell it right away: Historically, trying to cover up a wrongdoing has proven to be an ineffective tactic for public officials. From an ethical point of view, cover ups waste the community’s time and financial resources, plus it creates an environment that encourages further wrongdoing.

Recognize that as a public official, private life is not always private: This is something to keep in mind when potential conflict of interest issues arise, as well as when campaigning on issues of which that public official is personally invested. Scrutiny is a part of public life, especially for officials at a high level.

As long as public officials are thoughtful about how their words and actions make them look as well as how it makes their city look, they shouldn’t have any issues with the press. However, it’s still very important that public officials be aware that with the increasing number of suits and the large awards being made, they need protection from financial loss in the form of Public Officials Management Insurance. At Professional Governmental Underwriters, Inc. we will put together a Public Officials program that meets your specific requirements. Contact us today at (800)586-6502 for more information.