Reader Response
Insights from Democratic Convention
I didn’t attend the Democratic State Convention Saturday, as I was a delegate at the GOP convention. But I received this report from intrepid UPD reader Lisa Alcott, whose tagline at the end of her e-mail messages says: "Well-behaved women rarely make history."
“Hey Lavarr - How about some observations from the Utah Democrats Convention? I know that a lot of UPD readers are Democrats!
”While we didn't have any statewide contested races, the Leg 25 race was a classic example of how to run a convention race and keep delegates engaged all day.
- We couldn't start the Leg 25 Caucus/election until the Congo and Senate candidates completed their speeches in the main hall and of course the main hall agenda was 20-30 minutes behind schedule
- Once we got the OK to start the Senate/Leg Caucuses, we couldn't start the Leg 25 Caucus/election until the Senate 26 Caucus completed their election since there is delegate overlap!
- Around 2:30 we finally started -- after many delegates had been at convention since 9am!
- With five candidates vying to be the Democrat to represent Leg 25, we knew it would be difficult for 1 candidate to get the required 60% on ballot 1 - which no one did.
- A real lesson in how to keep candidates engaged, watered and fed to stay for the Leg caucus:
-- Christine Johnson had a hospitality suite replete with massage therapists, food, drinks and comfortable furniture!
-- Joel Briscoe fed his supporters pizza!
- Only 2 delegates (of the 91 from ballot 1) left before ballot 2! In my 5 years of participating in Utah Democrat conventions, I have never seen such a low number of folks leave!
- Ballot 2 - one candidate missed by 1 vote at getting 57% which would have forced ballot 3!
- I think we ended around 4 pm (I was on my feet from 7am-4pm so I can't quite remember when it ended).
”BTW - I should disclose that I was Christine Johnson's campaign director. But I think my comments are pretty even-handed! The party did a great job of organizing so that we could keep things moving -- it was a long day for our delegates but they did a great job in fulfilling their duties.”
Blog Watch
At Daily Kos, Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland defends DNC chief Howard Dean, who's worked to include even conservative Utah in his efforts to create a strong national Democratic party (hat tip: Democracy for Utah)... Plato's Cave discusses the Emery County/Diebold voting machine controversy... Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "One of the best parts of being in the Legislature is working with the tremendously bright and gifted college students who intern and volunteer to help with the process"... Wilf Sommerkorn discusses the public's opposition to toll roads: "While we dislike congestion, we seem to dislike paying more money for things even more ... So get yourself some books on tape, or find a good friend to share drive-time with, or plan to use your cell-phone for some extra work time. That seems to be all we'll accept, at least for now"... The Trib's political writers unveil Out of Context, "a wide-ranging web log chronicling the antics and rhetoric, brilliant and bizarre, of office holders and wannabes at all levels of government: from Utah's congressional delegation to your local city council"... Say Anything says of Rep. Chris Cannon's immigration issue troubles: "Perhaps if this happens a few more times across the country Republicans in Washington will get the message: The conservative base in this country wants no quarter given to those who have thumbed their noses at the laws our leaders (the ones we elected) have written concerning immigration."
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Reagan Endorses Hatch Stem Cell Bill
Nancy Reagan endorses a bill sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch that would restore federal funding of embryonic stem cell research (Associated Press); Hatch supports bill sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter that would provide more legal cover for the NSA surveillance program (The Hill).
Cannon Hurt By Immigration Issue
Articles analyze how Rep. Chris Cannon was negatively affected by the immigration issue, after voters at the recent state GOP convention forced him into a primary with John Jacob (CQPolitics, National Journal, and National Review); Cannon votes to pass HR 4297, a bill that would "prevent tax increases on small business owners, seniors, and families" (see press release).
National Politics
Reining in the 527s
Interesting NationalJournal.com column by Eliza Newlin Carney on campaign finance reform and attempts by the Republican Congress to put restrictions on 527 organizations.
Campaign Tip
How to Write a News Release
Editors get stacks of news releases every day. They don’t have time to thoroughly read each one. They give each a cursory glance, save those they find interesting, and throw the rest away. Your headline and first paragraph have to “sell” the news release. Here are some tips:
1. Use discretion; only send a new release when your subject has “news value.” If you send releases about trivial matters you run the risk of alienating editors – they may not take you seriously when you have a legitimate topic.
2. Send the release to the appropriate editor. Learn the name of that editor and address your correspondence to him or her. Most editors today prefer to receive releases by email, with the text in the body of the message, not as an attachment. If you have a friend at the news organization, then see if he or she will deliver the release to the appropriate editor. But don’t send a political news release to the sports editor.
3. Use a creative headline that describes or summarizes your topic.
4. State your message in the first paragraph. What is it you really want to say? Say it in two or three sentences. Be creative, if you can, while using terse, understandable language.
5. Provide details in the body of the news release. Give specific information: what, when, where, why, how. Give pertinent facts, attributing them to reliable sources, and tell where the editor can obtain more information.
6. Make your news release short – two pages maximum, and one is much better. Your goal is not to write a full feature article. You’re mission is to suggest a topic, provide enough detail so the editor can make an informed evaluation, and list sources for additional information.
7. Use standard English, avoiding jargon. Have someone proofread and help you correct any mistakes in spelling and grammar. You want to present a professional image.
8. State whether you can provide artwork (photos, charts, other images) to illustrate the subject. It’s fine to include a copy of artwork if it is easy to handle (prints or slides or electronic images). Remember that unsolicited material probably won’t be returned, so don’t send originals. But be prepared to oblige if the editor requests use of the original images.
9. Provide your contact information, including name, address, phone number and email.
10. Expect your news release to be changed and rewritten. News releases are rarely published as submitted. Don’t call and yell at the editor for changing your material, even if you think your original version was better.
11. Occasionally an error will creep in during the rewriting process and will be published. If that happens, don’t freak out. Just call or send the editor a note explaining the error and request publication of a correction.
If you follow these steps you’ll be able to use press releases to get important information to the public. You’ll also establish or maintain a professional relationship with the news media. |
