Public Information Officer J.D. Callaway revealed the inner workings of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on According to Callaway, the most common public records that junior reporters deal with are documents related to law enforcement. The transition to digital media is greatly affecting the way reporters gather and report news. One example given by Callaway was the consequence of police scanners. Currently, 30 percent of reports rely on information from police scanners. Due to the ever increasing fast pace of our society, the public demands news instantaneously. However, information transmitted on scanners can be incorrect or incomplete. In attempts to be the first reporter to break a story, accuracy is replaced by timeliness. News organizations are placing less value on verification, which leads Callaway to conclude that new technology can be damaging to our communities.
Although technology has been shown to harm journalism, if used correctly it can improve the validity of a news source and can even help solve criminal cases. Callaway shared a story about a 26-year-old male named Kristopher Russ. Through use of surveillance tapes, police were able to arrest and convict Russ after he stole hundreds of dollars from a Charity Jar used to raise funds for a child with cancer. Police used technology to enhance their chances of catching Russ by releasing a picture of the child and a description of the crime. Eyewitness testimony is often sought through similar means. Many cases would yet to be solved without the help of witnesses who willingly came forth after seeing signs like the one about the Charity Jar.
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