Where art Thou, Sources?

I become very frustrated when sources take their time with people who are asking for information. I don't know if it is because we are in a community where people are regularly hounded by reporters or what but I found it much easier in my hometown paper for people to talk with me and responded promptly to requests to talk with reporters. I understand that people have lives and responsibilities that overshadow talking with a reporter but if you are able or are able to pass along the information that they need most of the time we will only be taking a portion of you time, usually around 15 to 30 minutes. Also when your job revolves around something, you should know what you are representing. When you know nothing about your topic and things that impact/surround it, you make yourself look inadequate and I want to ask other people who would know more about the area of expertise that you are supposed to know about.