The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office will no longer send press releases by email. Instead, the office says all releases will be distributed exclusively on its website and social media accounts.
The sheriff’s office says the change is intended to give the public and media access to information at the same time.
“It forces journalists to have to go to each of those sites multiple times a day, just in the off chance of catching something that they may have missed."- Doni Chamberlain, anewscafe.com reporter and founder
But some local journalists say the shift could make it harder for reporters to track breaking news.
Doni Chamberlain is a reporter and the founder of anewscafe.com, an independent media outlet that covers Shasta County.
“I was not pleased at this news,” Chamberlain said. “I think it makes it more difficult for media to be able to stay on top of stories.”
The change adds extra hurdles for journalists trying to keep up with new information, she said.
“It forces journalists to have to go to each of those sites multiple times a day, just in the off chance of catching something that they may have missed," Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain has been a reporter for more than 30 years and says she’s not aware of other agencies using this process. She’s concerned it could set a precedent.
“I would not be surprised if, after the sheriff's department does this, that maybe these other agencies will follow suit,” Chamberlain said. “I really can't figure out what's in it for anybody.”
Shasta Scout editor Annelise Pierce noted that while the change creates challenges for reporters, it reflects how information is already being shared. In an email to NSPR, she said the sheriff’s office rarely sends press releases by email unless there is a major news event, and that it already relies heavily on social media.
“It's a hassle for reporters, but good for the public.”- Annelise Pierce, Shasta Scout editor and founder
“It's a hassle for reporters,” Pierce wrote, “but good for the public.”
She wants the sheriff’s office to use all its platforms, including email, to send out information.
NSPR reached out to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and the Redding Record Searchlight for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.
