Tuesday night, students from the UWF Department of Communication had the unique opportunity to learn about covering law enforcement from the highest-ranking officer in the county.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, along with Chief of Staff Whitney Lucas, spoke to Dr. Willie Tubbs’ Public Affairs Reporting class about the unique relationship between professional journalists and law enforcement, especially in moments of crisis.
“I can’t thank Sheriff Simmons and Whitney enough for being so generous with their time,” Tubbs said. “One of the many benefits of working at UWF and in Escambia County is the support we, both as educators and citizens, get from local officials. The fact that a person like Sheriff Simmons, who certainly has plenty on his plate, would set aside the time to speak to my class is something you wouldn’t get at other universities.”
“This was a great opportunity for our journalism students to not only learn what it’s like to cover law enforcement agencies, but also to be exposed to other career opportunities that their communications degree will afford them. I don’t think most students appreciate that their content creation, strategic communication, and mass comm skills can lead them to numerous career paths within law enforcement agencies.”
Simmons, who earlier in his career served as a public information officer with Pensacola PD, spoke at length about how law enforcement agencies seek to work with journalists while preserving the integrity of investigations and protecting the community at large.
He also addressed the best way for journalists to stay safe while seeking to disseminate the most valuable information in a timely fashion in the wake of major or active news events.
“Sheriff Simmons’ rich experience in the area of public relations and public information made him an ideal lecturer for our students,” Tubbs said. “He was able to explain the mindset of law enforcement officers, who often are required to strategically withhold certain information from journalists, but who will, if given time, ultimately seek to help you better serve your media consumers.”
Public Affairs Reporting is a course offered in the Department of Communication’s Digital Storytelling and Journalism Specialization. The course introduces students to the principles and procedures involved in reporting and writing news stories about public affairs topics and governmental agencies.
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