First, note that I write below “some” and not “all.” This advice is also directed at no one in particular but to some campaign press secretaries.
With 3 weeks left until the election, all campaign press secretaries for all races are just like Judges law clerks – they get their phone calls returned. No one ignores them. Campaign press secretaries get really really fast return calls in particular from the media.
That pre election media attention to campaign press secretaries can give some a big head and an inflated idea of their importance. Some can forget they are not the candidate. Some, thinking they know what is best, make decisions for the candidate well beyond their authority that could short change their candidate. Some don’t return calls to the media because of some past petty squabble.
Well…once November 6 arrives, about half the campaign press secretaries will find themselves out of jobs and suddenly not getting THEIR phone calls returned because of their past behavior. It can be a rather rude awakening.
Anyone who covered the 2000 Gore/Bush race remembers the media criticism that the Gore campaign didn’t return calls and the Bush campaign did. And yes, those of us who covered the race still even remember the names.
So my advice to campaign press secretaries is to do your job professionally for your candidate but don’t burn bridges because of some personal issue you might have with anyone in the media or because you have an inflated idea about your lasting importance. November 6 is just around the corner.
And let me repeat….I am not speaking about all campaign press secretaries. There are many, many, many who do their jobs with the utmost professionalism. My advice is reserved to those who do not.
And yes, it is true some members of the media can be particularly annoying.
