Jun 14th, 2011 | Communication, Public Policy, Public Service | 1 Comment
Is the media serving its public?
My previous life as a television station general manager was spent during a period of local newscast expansion. Costs of syndicated programs like “Oprah” contributed to the decision to “just add another half-hour of local news” to the schedule. The problem was always doing it with existing resources to save money. As more television stations followed suit an obvious (seems obvious) result was denigration of quality and coverage.
Now a recent federal study of the media soon to be published points out a serious decline in reporting on a local level. Particularly alarming in the study is the finding that coverage of state governments and municipalities has receded at such a quickening pace that it has left government with more power than ever to set the agenda and have assertions unchallenged.
→ continue reading
Jun 11th, 2011 | Leadership, Political Communication, Public Policy, Public Service | 2 Comments
When Wiener tweeted like no body’s business,he actually was hurting his own. His personal brand has been taking a relentless beating since his tweets to young women surfaced. And today’s story on “Weiner tweeting a 17 yr old girl from Delaware” doesn’t help either.
There are cries from all quarters for Weiner’s resignation. But Mr. Weiner has been unrelenting, he doesn’t want to resign. So regardless of what happens,the big questions is, would the Weiner brand survive? How much credibility and trust would he have in the congress?
We decided to post a few choice quotes from readers on Yahoo this morning (June 11): → continue reading
Jun 10th, 2011 | Crisis Communication, Leadership, Political Communication, Public Relations, Public Service | 3 Comments
Mr. Weiner, sir – what were you thinking?
First rule of positive PR – do positive, uplifting, morally defensible deeds. Oh boy. Sorry Mr. W. — missed on all three. So once again, what you say and what you did took diverse routes. And you’re taken by surprise? So you lie and keep lying. Huh?
Mr. Weiner now says he’s sorry and takes full responsibility to everyone he’s harmed. Mr. Weiner says he’s sorry for lying to the media. How about cheating on your new wife? Yes, you did cheat. Ask Jimmy Carter.
→ continue reading
Jun 1st, 2011 | Leadership, Management, Public Policy, Public Service | Comments Off
As we head into what will likely become one of the nastiest and most distasteful political seasons in history, I want to reflect on a recent, quality discussion I had with several friends about “service” and what it represents, especially to the individual who’s serving. The discussion centered around the difference between those who offer up their time and talents to “serve” and those who claim that what they are doing is “leading.”
The easiest example of this distinction can be found within the political spectrum. People running for office very liberally use the word “serve” to describe what they intend to do for their community, city, state, country, etc. Once elected to office, that term, and many times the actual activity in which they engage, ceases to reflect serving their constituents. It becomes what they then describe as “leading.”
→ continue reading
