Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Day: August 3, 2014”

Some friendly counsel

carlson CHRIS
CARLSON

 
Carlson
Chronicles

Dear Dan:

As you begin your new career as press secretary to First District Congressman Raul Labrador, here is some advice that will help you succeed. I preface it by saying I will miss your excellent political reporting.

I hope you understand skills you polished in your distinguished reporting career are not all transferable to making for a successful career as a press secretary. Thus,this counsel:

1) There is only one name on the ballot. Your job of course is to promote your Boss’ name. Too many “flacks” make the mistake of allowing themselves to be quoted directly. As a general rule speak only on background and not for direct attribution so that the information your Boss wants out is delivered but the quote is something like “an aide close to Congressman Labrador said. . . . .”

2) Physical proximity to your horse is critical. If you want to be the “go to” person for the media you have to be where he is, which is D.C., most of the time, not Meridian. I know Senator Mike Crapo has his media staff largely in Boise, but he does not seek the national profile your Boss is well along the path of obtaining. Already, your Congressman has established a record of sorts for the number of appearances on Meet the Press for a sophomore member. You want the producers of that show to be calling you when they want him, not some D.C. assistant.

3) You were a somebody in Boise; you’re a nobody in D.C. Your Boss has a right to expect you to start developing good relations with national, D.C. based media, many of whom may know you from your award-winning journalistic career but none who know you in your new role. All they will be interested in is can you return phone calls promptly, can you speak for your Boss and when necessary can you deliver him quickly. You’ll also have to court the veteran press secretaries as well as pay homage to the media “stars” for the press has indeed become major influencers of events not just reporters. Read This Town by Mark Lebovich, if you haven’t already.

4) Take a media training course and run your Boss through one periodically. There is an art form to talking with the media and delivering your message, then staying on that message regardless of what the media may want. Every interview is as an opportunity to get your message out and you have to control the interview. Thus, you’ll master such devices as “block and bridge,” where one learns quickly to block the thrust of a reporter’s question and bridge to the message you want. Pull Florida Governor Rick Scott’s CNN interview off of You Tube when he was a candidate. His message was “jobs” and every question he took he turned back into “I’m all about creating jobs.” His interviewers were frustrated but he sure got his message across. (more…)

On the front pages

news

Here’s what public affairs news made the front page of newspapers in the Northwest today, excluding local crime, features and sports stories. (Newspaper names contracted with location)

Idaho Republicans elect Yates as chair (Boise Statesman, IF Post Register, TF Times News, Pocatello Journal)
West Ada School District still growing (Boise Statesman)
Idahoans, some of them, confront climte change (Boise Statesman, Lewiston Tribune)
Barley demand growing (IF Post Register)
Evaluating cost of high school sports (Lewiston Tribune)
SkyFest becomes major event at Pocatello (Pocatello Journal)
Martaugh, Hanen school districts may merge (TF Times News)

Irrigators, others struggle with water at KF (KF Herald & News)
Wildfire smoke spreads widely (KF Herald & News)
Beaver Complex fire could lead to big losses (Medford Tribune)
'Dark money' from Koch group heads to OR race (Portland Oregonian)
Do weatherization subsidies pay off? (Portland Oregonian)

Harrison Medical's president departs (Bremerton Sun)
The last voyage of the USS Constellation (Bremerton Sun)
Primary election turnout low so far (Everett Herald, Vancouver Columbian)
Another Methow Valley fire roars (Vancouver Columbian, Kennewick Herald)
Red Mountain wine plans major expansion (Kennewick Herald)
Trying for cleanup at Mt Solo landfill (Longview News)
Forks seeing series of mills close (Port Angeles News)
Clallam prosecutor candidates go at it (Port Angeles News)
Seattle home prices through the roof (Seattle Times)
Transport problems for pot growers on islands (Seattle Times)
Illegal fireworks users ticketed (Vancouver Columbian)