Oakland's fire department has a secret weapon - a candid spokesperson

"To report on city government, journalists at The Oaklandside often need documents, data, and information from city agencies - and to serve our readers, we need them to answer our questions promptly. Oftentimes, our first stop is an agency's public information officer. Some are ready to be of service to the public and get answers to our questions right away. Some seem to see their job as protecting their agency by stonewalling our requests."

"To be fair, this can be part of a communications professional's role, especially during a crisis. But for too many PIOs, it becomes the main focus - slowing down the press when we're seeking factual information to share with the public. They become gatekeepers, blocking the press and the public from learning about the operations of their government and its elected or appointed leaders."

Journalists at The Oaklandside often need documents, data, and information from city agencies and require prompt answers to serve readers. Agency public information officers (PIOs) are commonly the first point of contact; some readily provide information while others delay or block requests. Excessive stonewalling can prioritize agency protection over public transparency, slowing the press and preventing public learning about government operations and leaders. Some PIOs, however, embody public service and transparency. Michael Hunt, chief of staff and spokesperson for the Oakland Fire Department since 2019, has a record of cooperative communications and extensive local and national experience.

Read at The Oaklandside