By JANET McGREGOR
Special to The Citizen

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.