Messaging, Views on News, public relations • May 5th, 2008

Opportunity Missed

by Greg Batiansila

Some of the best public affairs centers around timing. If something you represent or advocate is getting assailed publicly, you must act quickly, succinctly and directly. Did I say quickly?

So when the head of a major corporation in Milwaukee comments on Milwaukee’s “anti-business” attitude…if you work for City of Milwaukee, you must act quickly, succinctly and directly.

From a public affairs perspective, my first call wouldn’t be to the Journal Sentinel or any media outlet. Why bother getting into a media contest? My first call would be to John Shiely. I want him to know we’re listening. I want him to know my cell number. I want him to realize that we’re humans, that we can work together. I want Shiely to think he has advocates working for the City of Milwaukee.

Then I’d call the media. I’d let them know exactly what we’re doing to make Milwaukee a haven to business. Let them know that I’ve had an open and honest conversation with John and that he’d be included as we move forward.

Instead, according to JSOnline, I see the City of Milwaukee has responded with a yawn.

Now, some of these suggestions may already have been implemented behind the scenes to no avail. But bringing opinion leaders together as part of the solution is a great first step if it has not happened yet.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 9:24 am and is filed under Messaging, Views on News, public relations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.