Changing Face on Media Relations

With today's announcement of Fox News commentator Tony Snow as the replacement for White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, it is evident the Bush administration feels it necessary to have a spokesman with a stage presence. Snow's experience with the camera, his previous stint within the White House with the senior Bush's presidency, and journalist skills will serve him well.

Selecting a familiar face to deliver the administration's messages is a calculated and wise move. Not only is Tony Snow a familiar face in one of the most widely watched news channels, he is capable of managing the relationship with the audience, which is what ultimately counts. He also understands there is a gap which must be bridged between the Bush administration and journalist.

"President Bush hates responding to the press, hates responding to political enemies -- he thinks it's beneath him," Snow said on Fox News in March. "He's got a stubborn streak." What the president needed, he said, was "a series of vigorous defenses" of his position.
Washington Post

In order to kick-off the relationship building process with the media, he may need to start with restating his previous positions and framing them within the context of where he stands today.

Dee Dee Myers, a press secretary in the Clinton White House, said that if Bush wants smoother relations with journalists, "Tony has stature. He understands how the press works from both sides. He has a big personality, and that can be helpful." But she noted that Snow has "a long paper trail" and would have to defend policies he has criticized.Washington Post

Speaking of media presence...

Over at this blogger's site, I found an interesting analysis of the factors at play in the effort to corrupt the messages of serious researchers into areas which some very powerful groups would prefer not be critically analyzed. The article, The Destruction of the 911 Truth Movement, presents information on how major alternative news sites, the likes of Jeff Rense, and discussion forums, the likes of Above Top Secret, are used to assimilate, or disparage those which can't be assimilated, researchers with either a significant following or serious message which must be "handled".

Control of the media will determine which messages actually get delivered and what is contained therein.

Tagged: Current Affairs, News, News and Politics, Opinion, Politics.