Raleigh NC| Investigative Reports Drawing Attention Locally
N.C. Probation System, Durham Police Face Scrutiny: Now What?
When it comes to local news, nothing creates greater anticipation than the investigative report. It is both an eye-opener for people unaware of problems within the community and a catalyst for change that screams, “This is enough.” Lately, Triangle residents have had a great deal of them.
Raleigh folks are abuzz about The News and Observer’s recent series detailing the faults in North Carolina’s criminal probation system (“Losing Track”). The exhaustive reports left no stone unturned, and the end result has been a loud call for drastic measures to fix a tattered system.
(Next up for the N&O: A series of columns from Ruth Sheehan about the controversy surrounding Santo Perez’s arrest. Ben at howRDUdoin? is waiting with bated breath.)
Meanwhile, Vernal Coleman at the Independent Weekly outs the City of Durham’s spotty street surveillance cameras. (Complete with a requisite Google Map — ouch.) The publication, frequently lauded for its investigative reporting, landed some ferocious copy here — the story’s subheadline reads, “Nobody’s watching.”
So what now? When an investigative report hits your desk — and everyone else’s — it’s time to kick into crisis PR mode. A series as damaging as “Losing Track” will take a comprehensive reply that demands serious accountability up to the top rung of the ladder. (We recommend joining a discussion already in place and trying to bring that debate into your living room, as opposed to the front pages.) In the case of IndyWeek’s Durham cameras story, an immediate promise to rectify the situation will go a long way.
Do you or your company need a public relations firm? MMI Associates is a full-service public relations firm located in Raleigh, NC. Please visit the MMI Associates website for more information. Any questions? Give us a call at 919-233-6600.
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