Media in the New Millennium

As we mentioned before, Steve Ludwig — a member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents — works with us here at Metzger. He’s been kind enough to jot down some thoughts about his recent experience helping to select the new president of CU, Bruce Benson. (His first post from last week is here.) What follows is the second installment of our “insider’s” point of view.

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Know the Press Ahead of Time: The reporters that knew me already talked to me before and after – and that’s where I wound up in coverage. Help your clients with these relationships and if you don’t know them, work the room harder. I have not been on one talk show while other Regents have because they are known commodities and know the people booking those shows.

Picture Me This: Hand Written Signs Make for Great Photo Opps: Hand written placards show grass roots movement and the press likes to show those.  Props are also nice (some students used oil drums and oil rigs). So, if you are fighting against the man, have your people make their own signs of protest. If you are representing the man and have these protestors – not a lot you can do to keep those images out of the press. But, if you have legit supporters on your side, have them make handmade signs and stand next to the protestors.

Fight Fair and You Can Stay in the Game: This is a political, public affairs deal. One of my bosses taught me this adage: “Kill the bear or make friends with the bear, but don’t wound the bear.”  So, if you are going to have to work with people in the future (on a grass roots, business, community or political level) don’t go for the jugular and miss.  Fight hard, but don’t cross the line unless you have nothing to lose but everything to gain. That’s why 527 and Internet chats are so nasty – anonymity means you can say what you want with impunity. If you cross the line, you may never be able to repair the damaged relationships with people you will have to work with.  We can help our clients avoid that. These rules don’t apply to groups like Progress Now Action.

Lose Well: I don’t like this one.  But, I knew the odds were against my side prevailing so I had to consider how to 1) keep my integrity and 2) and not to inflict long-term damage to the institution while being honest.  When I knew it looked grim, I let people know I was not going to engage in a scorched Earth policy if I lost.  When casting my vote, I said if he’s the guy, he gets my full support. Not always appropriate, but worked in this case.  I tell you this as if you are in a public fight, this might come in handy.

Win Well: Bruce Benson said the vote is behind him and he will work with everyone. That’s a gracious winner.

Is that Bach?: This hadn’t occurred to me before, but the sound guys played some nice guitarish, new ageish, something over the sound system before the meeting. Brilliant! It really changed the feel of the room. Music calms – something to keep in mind.

[digg=http://digg.com/politics/More_Thoughts_from_Regent_Ludwig]

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