Do Police Officers Think the Media is Influencing the Public's View of Their Role?

Directions: In the space below, answer each of the following questions and/or insert the requested information.

Insert your research question here: Do police officers think the media is influencing the public's view of their role? Insert the demographic information for your interviewee below: ● Age: 32 ● Gender: Male ● Race & Ethnicity: White ● Occupation: City of Florissant (Patrol officer) ● List any other pertinent information here (number of kids, marital status, education, etc.): The person I interviewed was Officer Vassallo, with the City of Florissant. The interview was conducted on February 16st at approximately 4:30 P.M. via telephone. Age: 32. Experience: 2 years. The interview lasted about 45 minutes via telephone. Officer Vassallo is a caucasian male and has a girlfriend and in his free time likes to go to the gym and watch movies. Interview Schedule/Guide: Insert 10-15 questions that you intend to ask your respondent during the interview. Following each question, explain how the question is theoretically driven/related to your research question. Question #1 How did you decide to start a career in law enforcement? This question would set the stage by alerting the interviewees that the discussion is about their careers. It would enable them to focus on the various areas other questions could target. Question #2 Do you interact with social media? This question establishes the foundation for the interview. It prompts the interviewee to reflect on their interaction with media and highlights the various types. It also makes it easy to learn whether they watch videos, listen to podcasts, or read about police-related information. Question #3 How frequently do you interact with social media? Probing for answers using this question is essential for determining whether the police officer routinely accesses traditional/mainstream news sources. Increased contact with media translates to a higher probability of finding news and other materials about police conduct and roles in society. Question #4 How would you describe your relationship with social media? Understanding a police officer’s relationship with the media contributes to the research question by illustrating whether the respondent has a positive or negative perception. Interviewees considering it intrusive reveal they object to the media's influence, while those that find it constructive reveal that they embrace the media’s contribution to their roles. Question #5 How do you think media representations of the police shape your conception of the job? Diverse theories indicate that the media influences policing in societies through the routine narratives they formulate. As a result, this question would seek responses that confirm whether the law enforcement officers consider these creations impactful on their roles. Question #6 Are there any recent media incidents that have changed your perspectives about the role of a police officer? The media presents numerous reports about police conduct and accompanies it with their expectations and judgment. Such information may challenge the police to introspect and question their roles. As a result, it may influence how they deliver services based on community expectations. Question #7 In what ways do you think the media has impacted your department? Police view their role based on the various existing policies that guide their conduct. If they recognize that the media and reporters play a fundamental role in their creation, then it translates that they acknowledge its influence on how they view their roles. Question #8 Do you have any personal incidences where the media influenced how you approach your work in the communities? This part relates to the research question by highlighting how the media may have a real-life effect on an officer’s behavior. Such an aspect underscores the media scrutiny of every individual and their work. Question #9 What would you say was the overall impact of your personal experience from the media? Responses to this question will enable one to understand whether the police changed their view about acceptable conduct. Such an individualized experience would be evidence of the media’s influence on how these experts view their roles. Question #10 When you talk with your colleagues, how do they feel the media shapes the police role? This component relates to the research question by summarizing what most police officers feel about the media. Responses would show whether they acknowledge or disregard the influence. Question #11 How has the media shaped the way you carry out your job? This question has theoretical implications because any response about the impact of media proves a level of impact. The effect can be positive or negative, revealing that its presence determines how police view their place in society.