More on bunker mentality
Normal people probably don't care much, but it's a big issue for us in the radio business--politicians seeking statewide office who won't take questions from reporters. It happened yesterday as noted here by Mr. Scheck when journalists tried to ask legitimate questions of the two top DFL endorsed candidates in the state.
Instead of answering the questions Mike Hatch and Matt Entenza tried to manage the news by issuing written statements. Written statements may have some usefulness in the print media, but for broadcasters they're pretty much useless. It would seem the primary reason for such a strategy is to keep the story off TV.
DFLers are not alone in using such tools. Remember a few weeks ago when the Pawlenty administration announced there were no bidders for the crosstown highway project? They did it on a Friday afternoon with a written statement and made no one available to answer reporters' questions.
It happens all the time, but somehow seems more cynical during campaign season. These people are, after all, asking the public to accept their message. They invite the media to any number of inane photo ops and statements on policy. But when the news is bad they head to the bunker. Shouldn't the voters and the media be entitled to wonder what would happen if they're in office and things take a turn for the worse? Should we expect four years of hide and seek with the press?
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