To win the battle

of ideas, Republicans should avoid the mistake of

believing the media is "all liberally

biased," was the message Tod Young presented

during a recent Fayette Republican Party

breakfast.

Young, president of

Hurst, Young and Associates Inc., addressed

handling and using the media effectively for a

larger than normal group of local Republicans.

His company is a

government affairs and corporate communications

firm. The company's clients include the

Southeastern Legal Foundation, El Paso Energy in

Houston, Texas, Lummus Building and the high tech

security firm of Supply Secure Wings Inc.

Working with El

Paso, Sonat and Scana Energy, the firm recently

helped turn the public's opinion regarding

natural gas deregulation from skeptical to

"a more positive opinion" by stressing

the fact that "now there is a choice."

Young encouraged

Republicans to be timely and factual in

presenting information to the media, to stick to

their principles and to be pro-active rather than

re-active. He stressed the importance of being

available to the media regardless of the

potential negativity of the situation.

He emphasized,

"Be clear, concise, timely and accurate. The

more you know about your subject, the better your

reception will be."

He continued,

"Foster relations with the media. Speak to

them on a regular basis and develop a working

relationship."

Young noted that

working with the media in the ways he outlined

and becoming a "known quantity" would

not only assist them in doing their job, but

would help "if and when you need

access."

He gave a brief

overview of the pressure reporters face:

"Reporters battle for space, to get a

`scoop,' and to get a good, accurate

interview." He stressed the need for

Republicans to have "reasonable

expectations" of the media.

As an example of

the success of the strategies he outlined, Young

referred to the current high profile Southeastern

Legal Foundation suit against the city of

Atlanta's affirmative action policy. He noted

that "a well-known newspaper, considered to

be fairly liberal, has had 14 editorials in favor

of Southeastern's position."

The Fayette County

Republicans meet first Saturdays at 9 a.m. at

Baci Italian Restaurant. For information, phone

Eric Dial at 404-365-8500 or 770-486-6171.

<!--

-----------