By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

NEWS stories are served to you on a silver platter every morning or at 6 o’clock in the evening. They are ready for your consumption.
 But don’t think that the reporters’ job is easy. The writing part is only half the work. Getting the material is sometimes the harder part. Trying to make sense of the documents that are given you is often not easy. Sometimes getting in touch with the people that you need to talk to entails having to sit by the phone all day and wait for them to call you back. If you don’t get to talk to anyone for story background, you resort to Google.
I know, I know. Government officials have better things to do than talk to us, egomaniac reporters, who think that the world will stop if you don’t take our calls. If you can’t get to the big boss, you depend on their public information officers. They can be our messiahs—if they are not being snubs.
I thought I’d fill this column by recognizing the public information officers who have been helpful to us in bringing you the news and telling you what readers need to know. I have compiled a list of PIOs who have been dependable throughout the year. I just thought you need to know who is worthy of your tax dollars. 
Naming “The Best” list is usually done at the end of the year but, hey, it’s better late than never. Here’s my list, not necessarily in a specific order.
1. Bernadette Meno of the governor’s office: She will move mountains to get you what you need and she probably even terrorizes administration officials to make sure they call reporters.
 2. Troy Torres of the governor’s office: He will call you even after work to ask you if there’s anything else that you need or any person whom you need to talk to. He’ll get the documents that you need.
3. Jay Fortich former chief of staff of former Sen. Bob Klitzkie, now PIO for Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco: He won’t stop calling until he’s sure you get everything you need for your story.
4. Carlotta Leon Guerrero, chief of staff of Lt. Gov. Mike Cruz: If she has to skip the weekend, she will, just to make sure that you have reached her boss. Being a former journalist herself, she knows what reporters need.
5. Cathleen Moore-Lin communications and marketing director of the University of Guam: She clearly explains issues that require explanation. She keeps you updated with what’s going on at the university. She always returns phone calls and sets up appointments with UOG people that you need to talk to.
6. Josh Tenorio, former chief of staff of Sen. BJ Cruz: You can ask him anything about the issues that his boss is working on because he knows what his boss is doing.
7. Allen Guzman of the Guam Police Department: Covering the police beat has never been the same since they changed their PIO.
8. Dan Tydingco, communications director of the judicial council: He always keeps you updated about what’s going on at the Judiciary.
9. Art Perez of the Guam Power Authority: He always returns phone calls.
10: Heidee Ballendorf of the Guam Waterworks Authority. She keeps you updated on water situation.
11. Robert Tupaz of former Sen. Larry Kasperbauer and now with Sen. Jim Espladon: Wait, aren’t you our sports guy?