You may not believe it, but most reporters at the leading news organizations take their trade very seriously. So much so that any hint of taint in their journalistic pursuits raises all kinds of red flags within their news organizations.And these days, with no paucity of pundits, the prospect of getting red flagged for a…… Continue reading Ground Rules
Category: politics
Dem Past Mistakes
To engage or not to engage…that is the question. For as long as I can remember, good crisis managers stressed avoiding knee-jerk reactions to unpleasant characterizations in the media of your company or person.Crisis pros advised: “Why draw attention to something that will disappear with the next news cycle?” “You’ll only make matters worse.” “Time…… Continue reading Dem Past Mistakes
News Hole Partisans
Presidential politics was on the menu at Michael’s (alongside the $34 cobb salad) during a recent gathering of our men’s lunch group of PRs, journos and one special guest, the head of a magazine publishing company.The day’s topic explored the variables that might still make a measurable impact on the candidates’ respective fates. It included…… Continue reading News Hole Partisans
Unleashing the Groundswell
A fascinating story in Sunday’s New York Times that explores the rise of low-cost, but effective (and infectious) consumer-generated videos that advocate for and against the Presidential candidates.Its focus was Robert Greenwald whom I briefly met in the press room at last week’s Personal Democracy Forum. It was his video that forced Sen. McCain to…… Continue reading Unleashing the Groundswell
Unity in Unity
If authenticity is the new PR buzzword, then who’s going to explain it to Sen. Obama’s PR consiglieres?Didn’t anyone learn anything from the faux photo-ops and canned colloquialisms deployed by the Bushies to intentionally deceive the public these last seven years?Americans so desperately want a commander-in-chief with a reasonable command of the English language, but…… Continue reading Unity in Unity
Bus Stories
There’s something about buses that draw designated message-drivers from a wide swath of the PR spectrum. My first mobile PR experience entailed publicizing a large bus-like motor home outfitted with floor-to-ceiling, trompe l’oeil-style photographs on its walls. It showed the interiors of a typical Courtyard by Marriott hotel room.Marriott Corp. marked its first brand extension…… Continue reading Bus Stories
Sen. Obama, Don’t Try This
It’s simply the nature of the beast. As much as the Obama campaign insists it will forgo the saccharine opaqueness and command & control ways of the Bush PR machine, the need to “manage” his public image remains paramount if the Illinois Senator ever expects to get elected.There’s nothing new here. Joe McGinness first threw…… Continue reading Sen. Obama, Don’t Try This
A Blown Nomination
Dear Hillary,Yes, I see the daily e-mails from you, Terry, Bill, Chelsea and Geoff, but I’m afraid they’ve fallen short in pulling me back into your fold.Do you remember the PR advice I offered up in January and February? Be authentic, lay off Sen. Obama, and direct all your attention to this administration’s failed policies…… Continue reading A Blown Nomination
Beltway Springboard
You’d be hard-pressed to find a PR calling that beats national politics as a springier springboard to a high-paying, high-profile gig. Makes little difference what you did or how you performed.If you can claim spokesperson duties for any member of the Executive Branch, and you didn’t screw-up too badly, you can invariably write your ticket…… Continue reading Beltway Springboard
Money + Congress = Corruption
This blog over the last three years has spent a fair share of time looking at politics through the focused lens of a PR practitioner. After all, hasn’t this administration provided enough taint on our profession to merit such attention?Some of my previous political posts included:Are Hillary’s consiglieres giving her the best advice?How truly distrustful…… Continue reading Money + Congress = Corruption