“Journalism is under assault – and I don’t just mean that politically – I mean people are questioning everything the media does”, Scott Thuman, chief political correspondent for WJLA-TV in D.C., told Doug Simon, D S Simon Media, in a video interview following Thurman’s appearance on a media panel at PR Summit DC. Thurman added that the news media must be “accurate, that we be thorough and not knee jerk. The media, where it does fault, is trying to report things too quickly and sometimes, with an attitude.”
According to Thurman, “the viewers are smart people, the readers are smart people. Present them the facts and let them decide.”
You can see the full interview here.
Attendees at Capitol Communicator’s PR Summit DC heard from about 40 speakers at 20 sessions discussing fundamental changes impacting the communications community. And, looking toward the future, communicators were told by keynote speaker Martha Boudreau that “nimble is the new norm.” Boudreau, executive vice president and chief communications and marketing officer at AARP, (and at podium in picture above), discussed the fact that many people are working beyond 65 years of age, so adjusting to what’s happening and what’s new are essential to a long, successful career in communications.
This year, the Summit teamed with the Newseum on two sessions on developments in the news media, plus a session on podcasting. The three sessions were moderated by the Newseum’s Sonya Gavankar.
The full-day event on June 2 at the NEA Conference Center in D.C. attracted communicators from corporations, associations, non-profits and government, and featured in-depth sessions on the profound changes in traditional and social media; plus sessions on crisis communications, using video to tell an organization’s story, media training, podcasts and other topics.
The summit also included a roundtable discussion with several top Chief Communications Officers, above, about how they strategize and plan in today’s media environment, plus a panel of leading headhunters discussing what today’s PR demands at all levels. The session was moderated by Pam Jenkins, president, Powell Tate (left in photo).
In addition, the Summit featured a presentation titled “For the Record: Making it Official with Guinness World Records”, where an unsuccessful attempt was made to set a Guinness World Record.
The goal of PR Summit DC was to give communicators the skills and techniques needed to be successful in the coming months and years, stated Capitol Communicator.
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