Philly’s Council prez needs some media training

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I apologize for light posting lately, but it’s for a good cause. I’ve been on the air pitching in WHYY’s winter membership drive. If you like what you read on Newsworks or hear on WHYY, please consider a contribution. And if you have any ideas for what would be a persuasive pitch, feel free to suggest them.

Meanwhile, some things that have caught my eye in the last few days…

Is Philadelphia’s new City Council president ready for prime time?

Not yet it seems, from his handling of the Daily News’ attempt to introduce him to readers. Clarke had an opportunity to present himself in a flattering light as both newspapers sought to do introductory profiles as he began his term in the president’s chair.

He put them off, granted the Daily News a last-minute interview, then complained about what he said was a misrepresentation of his personal life.

You’ll get the gist of the issue by reading this item in the paper’s PhillyClout blog.

Clarke is playing the political game at a whole new level now, and he would be wise to learn that you’ll get better media coverage if you actually engage reporters.

 

Also, while it’s no surprise that President Obama’s approval ratings in Pennsylvania have fallen, note that in a recent poll, far more Pennsylvania voters blamed George W. Bush and Congress for the state of the economy than the president. Maybe that’s why Obama still does pretty well against any of the current Republican candidates in head-to-head polls.

 

And those who think politics are sleazy in Philadelphia and squeaky-clean everywhere else should read this story by James McGinnis about a major political donor in Bucks County getting a $2 million open space grant. Maybe the contributions had nothing to do with it, but I’ll note that in 2005 Philadelphia enacted tough pay-to-pay laws that prohibit major donors to city elected officials from getting certain city contracts and economic assistance.

 

And finally, if you were enraged or amused by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie calling a lawmaker a “numbnuts,” you’ll enjoy this Greatest Hits list of schoolyard names the governor has called past adversaries. It appears in the Gothamist.