(Beth Werge/MEDILL NSJI)

The Evanston police chief, a police commander who routinely deals with the media and a former federal prosecutor emphasized the importance of building relationships between reporters and law enforcement officers.

The three men spoke to the Medill community of about 30 students, faculty and staff members Thursday on what they believe works for and what works against journalists in pursuing news about crime and punishment.

Chief Richard Eddington, Cmdr. Joe Dugan and former Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Cramer all emphasized the importance of building relationships with members of law enforcement and they also explained some of the rationale behind various different police department practices.

“A huge part of it is credibility,” said Dugan, who recently became the department’s spokesman. “It’s important to build relationships.”

Cramer added that it’s a good idea to start small and build on that rather than expect instant acceptance. “You can start slowly,” he said. “Try to get broader information with generic questions. That gets a rapport going. But you’re not going to go zero to sixty (in building trust).”

Eddington said authorities are willing to work with journalists but that cooperation needs a solid foundation.

“We’re looking for professional partners to get this information out to the public,” he said. “If you come prepared, if you’re willing to invest the time… It’s hard to make friends in a crisis. There’s no getting through all these things in a compressed time while you’re competing with other media outlets.”

Despite dramatic protests and conflict between citizens and police in cities like Ferguson and Baltimore in the last several months — and the potential threat of similar protests in a city like Chicago — Eddington said he feels that his dealings with journalists haven’t just changed, but also improved as of late.

“Our relationship with the media has changed multiple times,” Eddington said. “In the short time I’ve been in Evanston, it’s become much more social media driven, much more transparent.

“Talking to the press is like a forward pass,” he added. “Three things can happen; two are bad. There’s always going to be some standoffishness on our part, but I think we’re better behaved, we’re more transparent.”

Recalling other stories and advice, the three repeated the importance of journalists following the law, staying safe and being respectful of crime scenes.

When there are police perimeters set up, for example, “It’s not because we don’t want you to have the story,” Eddington said. “It’s because we don’t have enough assets to protect you.”

As for when it’s appropriate to share “off-the-record” information?

“Only with someone that I have a longtime relationship with,” Eddington said. “There has to be a mutual understanding. But sometimes that background information is crucial to painting the mosaic of what’s coming next.”

The hour-long discussion was hosted by the Medill National Security Journalism Initiative.

For more information about the NSJI at Northwestern University, visit nationalsecurityzone.org or contact Tim McNulty at timothy-mcnulty@northwestern.edu.

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — It’s not every day that you get to spend time with Marines on a restricted-area military base.

But a group of 16 Northwestern University students got to do just that in April as part of Medill’s National Security Journalism Initiative.

With the cooperation of the United States Marine Corps,  students enrolled in the National Security Specialization Program were able to spend a few days at the massive base in Twentynine Palms, California, reporting on a live-fire training exercise and the facets of  military life that they learned about. Stories about everything from recycling and water-purification processes to training simulations and quirky facts about some of the Marines continue to be added to the nationalsecurityzone. orgwebsite.

“Donning body armor and helmets before climbing into a seven-ton truck at 5 a.m. let us know right away that we were going to see Marine operations in a very real setting,” said Initiative Co-Director Ellen Shearer, who arranged the trip. “The goal of the trip was for the students to get a deeper understanding of military culture, operations and training.  Mission accomplished – as you can see from the stories on the website.”

But even more valuable than the stories produced was the experience itself.

For two and a half days – which, according to students, “couldn’t have gone faster” – the group embedded at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center about two hours from Palm Springs. During the live-fire training embed, students interviewed officers at the command center, then headed to the artillery range to see how the orders issued from command were put into action. They got firsthand experiences with regimental fire exercises and combat convoy training. They also got into MRAP simulators used for practicing how to get out of the vehicles in rollovers and ran through a simulated Humvee trip through an Afghan village.

“It was an incredible experience for me,” said Ezra Kaplan. “As a reporter, I am used to talking to people about the military or talking to public affairs representatives, but getting to speak to the Marines who were on the ground and doing the work was a very informative experience.”

By the end of the trip, the group didn’t want to leave.

“It was so great, so much fun,” said Taylor Hall. “We got total access into a military world – which I and I think most civilians have limited knowledge of.”

The students also visited the base’s archaeological center and recycling center, where they were given recycled ordnance as souvenirs.

“This trip was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at Medill,” said Rachel White. “Spending time of the base and getting the know the Marines that live and train there was an invaluable experience for an aspiring national security reporter.”

White, Kaplan and Hall said they are looking forward to their next chance to embed with a military unit.

“It’s great that we get the opportunity to see and hear from all sides of security issues like that,” Hall said. “I don’t know why anyone would do any other specialization at Medill.”

Stay tuned to nationalsecurityzone.org to read more stories from the crew’s trip to Twentynine Palms.