PR Puzzle: How to Deal with Bloggers
I had an interesting visit yesterday with a couple of key staffers from one of Utah’s congressional offices wanting to talk about the new media world of blogging, podcasting, e-mail newsletters (like UPD), and so forth. For public relations people, Internet-based communications provide both great opportunity and also possible pitfalls.
A politician, for example, can communicate directly with voters, avoiding the traditional media filters, by establishing an informative Web site, becoming a blogger, or publishing an e-newsletter. The technology is simple enough today that speeches, press conferences and interviews can readily be recorded, using both audio and video, and posted on a Web site for everyone to hear, watch and read. But these direct communications ought not to be done unless they can be done well. A blog by a politician, for example, will backfire unless it is genuine, interesting, insightful, and witty, with at least daily posts. That takes real time and effort. And if it’s actually being written by a staffer, be transparent about that or be prepared for a lot of criticism.
In addition to direct communications using the new publishing and broadcasting tools, the blogs and newsletters out there published by others represent a new channel to reach political audiences. But this is tricky and few people have mastered the art of using bloggers as a communications channel. For example, should a candidate or an incumbent identify Utah’s top political blogs and routinely send news releases to them?
That might be worth doing, but dangers exist. When a news release is sent to the traditional news media, generally the worst thing that can happen is it is ignored. But when a press release is sent to a blogger, there’s a very real chance it will be ridiculed and held up to scorn.
So political PR people must take the time to identify bloggers who have high readership, and those who are likely to be sympathetic rather than hostile. Bloggers are always looking for things to write about. Some bloggers will welcome receiving political press releases. Others might be offended. Learning what works will require time and effort.
Opposing Viewpoint on Tolling
Here’s a USA Today column by Jim Hall on the negatives of tolling, sent to me by Dave Creer of the Utah Trucking Association.
Media Watch
Stories That Go Too Far
“What is fair game anymore?” asks the headline of a NationalJournal.com column by Chuck Todd. He thinks news stories about Sen. George Allen’s high school antics and Sen. Hillary Clinton’s marriage, crossed the line. He also thinks Sen. Rick Santorum was off-base in using his 13-year-old son to send out a fundraising letter.
Internet Altering Politics
Jonathan Alter, in his Newsweek column, says, “In a country where more than 40 percent of voters now self-identify as independents, it's no longer a question of whether the Internet will revolutionize American politics, but when.” The column is on “open-source politics.”
Downtown Planning
The Salt Lake Chamber has kicked off what appears to be a very visionary and successful planning effort for downtown Salt Lake City (see news highlights above). Here’s a message to UPD from the Chamber’s Natalie Gochnour:
“We launched our new downtown visioning process today. We had 75 plus business and community leaders join us for the launch at the Alta Club. Each of the "Conveners" signed a Charter committing the business community to create a ‘vision of visions’ for downtown Salt Lake City. The entire effort is patterned after the successful 1960s effort called the Second Century Plan which resulted in the Salt Palace Convention Center, Abravanel Hall, City Creek Park, the Farmers Market and Courts Complex.”
KCPW broadcast a live public dialogue on the visioning process Wednesday night. A lot more information can be found on the Chamber’s Web site.
Local Watch
MAG Request for Qualifications
The Mountainland Association of Governments "is seeking the services of a qualified consultant to work in partnership with MAG staff to further develop internal MAG capabilities to perform regional travel demand modeling, transportation micro-simulation modeling, and air quality analysis." For more info, click here.
Washington Watch
Hatch to Open OECD Conference
On June 5, Sen. Orrin Hatch "will open a major conference highlighting the influential work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the development of international tax policies. The conference is being organized by the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), an industry group representing U.S. multinationals, along with the OECD and its Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC)" (see press release).
Utah to Receive Rural $$
Utah among 23 states receiving U.S. Dept. of Agriculture funding for targeted rural economic development projects. Says Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns: "Job creation in rural communities is a very important component of the Bush Administration's commitment to a strong economy. This funding will help promote new job opportunities by establishing new businesses and helping existing businesses to grow" (see press release).
Blog Watch
At By Common Consent, Kevin Barney explains "why I favor gay marriage" (see also here, here, here, here, and here)... The World, According to Me contests the idea that Rep. Jim Matheson is a fiscal conservative (see also here)... Part of the Plan says the Utah GOP "does not care much for the poor and disabled ... they believe in survival of the fittest and free markets, which dictate who gets what (which is another way of saying, it’s only right that the rich should get richer, and the poor and disabled, who everyone knows are lazy and subsist only on government entitlements, should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, of course figuratively speaking if they are paralyzed, and get a job)"... The Utah Amicus says the Utah GOP "has become a rich man's game. It no longer has anything to do with public service, good government, fiscal responsibility, or putting Utah citizens first."
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
How’s the Global Economy?
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold offers interesting insights on the global economy in this week’s Tea Leaves newsletter. The last four years have seen the strongest global economic growth in more than 30 years.
SUWA: No to Green River Lease
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is opposing an "oil and gas lease sale scheduled for July 2006 by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and Sovereign Lands [that would] open to oil and gas development a 17 acre parcel beneath the bed of the Green River and adjacent to Dinosaur National Monument in northeastern Utah." For more info, click here.
No Noose Is Good News
(From OpinionJournal.com column by James Taranto)
The Associated Press reports on the latest fitness innovation:
"If you think keeping fit is merely mind over matter, Lester Clancy has an invention for you -- a cordless jump-rope.
"That's right, a jump-rope minus the rope. All that's left is two handles, so you jump over the pretend rope. Or if you are truly lazy, you can pretend to jump over the pretend rope. . . .
"Why jump rope without a rope?
"It's perfect for the clumsy, Clancy said. 'If you are still jumping, you're still using your legs as well as your arms, and getting the cardiovascular workout. You just don't have to worry about tripping on the rope.'
"It is also good for mental institutions and prisons where rope is a suicide risk, said Clancy."
For our part, we prefer water sports, but we can't swim. Thank goodness for dehydrated water! |
