이 연구는 경찰관의 대언론 홍보 활동, 특히 독자투고를 통한 홍보가 어떻게 이뤄지는지를 분석했다. 이를 위해 경남지역 주요 신문을 대상으로 투고 주제, 투고 목적, 투고자 계급을 분석했으며, 홍보담당 경찰관과 현직 기자의 심층 인터뷰를 가졌다. 연구 결과 경찰관 독자투고의 몇 가지 특성을 발견했다. 첫째, 지방신문의 독자투고란이 경찰 직업군 홍보 수단으로 전락할 가능성이 높아지고 있다는 점이다. 둘째, 잦은 경찰관의 투고는 표창장 등을 받기 위한 수단일 가능성이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 경찰관의 투고 내용과 주제의 범주가 홍보와 계도에만 집중되어 있었다. 넷째, 특정 직업군의 독자투고 집중 현상은 지방신문의 신뢰에도 영향을 줄 수 있으므로 신문사 담당자의 철저한 게이트키핑이 필요하다는 것이다. 다섯째, 그러나 시의 적절성을 띤 독자투고는 경찰 치안 활동과 대국민 홍보에 긍정적인 영향도 제공한다는 점이다. 이에 따라 연구진은 경찰관 독자투고의 개선방안으로 경찰관 독자투고 주제를 다양화하고, 독자투고에 대한 현행 인센티브 방안 개선, 신문사의 담당기자 및 경찰관의 전문성을 높일 것, 국민들이 체감할 수 있는 시의성 있는 독자투고로 방향을 전환해야 한다는 점을 제안한다.
This study analyzed how police officers' publicity activities, especially through independent investment, are conducted amid the surging demand for public security. To that end, he had in-depth interviews with major newspapers in South Gyeongsang Province with topics of donation, purpose of donation, class of contributors, police officers in charge of public relations, and current journalists. The study found several characteristics of police officers' independent efforts in local newspapers. First, the possibility of local newspapers' struggle for self-help is increasing. One out of every 10 police officers surveyed a year-long independent campaign. Secondly, police officers have found that their own pet ads are voluntary, but there is a possibility that they are making contributions for incentives. According to the daily newspaper, which is currently being conducted by the local police, each local police office uses its own efforts as a means of obtaining incentives according to the presentation of more than three cases a year. Third, police officers did not have a wide range of contributions and topics, but focused only on publicity and guidance. While there are advantages of posting and promoting articles that have gained experience in the police profession, the reader has the disadvantage of experiencing a formality of contributions. Fourth, the concentration of independent opinions of certain professional groups may affect the credibility of local newspapers, and thus, thorough gate-kipping is necessary in the process of publishing independent contributions. Accordingly, newspapers need to raise the quality of their own efforts through the gatekeeping process. Fifth, despite the generally negative perception of police force's efforts, a timely message also provides a positive influence on police policing and public relations. The research team needs a strategy to diversify the subject of police officers' independent efforts and provide information needed for the general reader. Second, current police policing activities show a strong presence in police press releases and event and accident reports. Third, I suggest that the professionalism of newspaper reporters and police officers should be enhanced to solve the problem of low reliability, and that the public should shift to a timely independent effort that they can feel.