Congress on Digital PR Steroids

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By: Doug Bedell

Jack O'Dwyer provides insight into how members of Congress apparently are one-upping reporters by relying on social media and email lists to connect with constituents — without intermediary questioning by the press. A New York Times reporter claims it's becoming the "default position" for "Washington reporters to allow sources to pre-approve quotes and make changes if they wished."

O'Dwyer writes: "Today, politicians' constant online presence, maintained by armies of staffers and outside hired guns, surely costs Americans much more than the quaint system of franking (free mail) ever did, and yet it's accepted as business as usual in our digital lives."

Another especially ominous example of how the news media are becoming marginalized in these digital times?

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About the Author

Doug Bedell has a background in journalism and PR and is the owner of Resource Relations LLC in Central PA, focusing on organizational and crisis communication. He’s the community manager of SimplyFair.net, a social network on fairness. On the Web, Doug’s at www.ResourceRelations.com. On Twitter, he’s @DougBeetle.

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