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Topic: Letters Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 3/24/2006 12:21:55 PM
Title: Milbank's spin tactics
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
From SCOTT BARADELL: Regarding Dana Milbank’s remarks on Ben Domenech today, I find it amusing that Milbank resorts to classic spin tactics that he would never tolerate without comment had they come from a politician or PR person.

Specifically, he did not answer questions directly posed to him, and instead answered the question he wanted to answer. That’s what PR people often teach in media training, Dana.

Question:

How far will he be defended while the plagiarism cloud hangs over his head and sullies the reputation of The Post?

Answer:

I must say I'm underwhelmed by the hysteria over having a conservative voice on the website.

Maybe a certain AP writer should teach Milbank what a straw man is.

Hey, I’m in PR so I media-train people myself (although my advice is always to directly answer the question -- at least briefly -- before making the affirmative point you want to make.)

Basically, I just don’t like the hypocrisy of a journalist answering questions in the same manner as a “Thank You for Smoking” hack while pretending to be above such tactics. [Permalink]

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