The Bailey Blog

Mark down Nov. 4, 2009 as the day Detroit’s turnaround begins.  Yesterday’s election - or re-election - of Mayor Dave Bing is huge.  Mayor Bing, in just a few months, has shown that he will make the tough decisions that are needed to move our city forward.  There are no favorites; only what is right.  The list of what needs to be done is long, and establishing priorities will be difficult.  He can’t do everything at once. 

Another important aspect of the most recent election day was the selection of five new council members.  They look like positive thinkers and people who also will work to make the right decisions.  The four members who were re-elected also were the best thinkers of the old council.  So, let’s all get to work and help in any way these elected officials whom have the daunting task of turning us around. 

Mayor Bing has said that, ”no one expects Detroit to turn around.”  He says it can and will.  We all hope and pray that he’s right.  Detroit is home to so many of us.  It is the heart of the state.  It has a tremendous history of success (and failure).  But the tough decisions must be faced and dealt with.  Too often only lip service is given to the important issues, such as race and the cost of doing business in Detroit and Michigan.  We all must join these elected officials - and those in Lansing - in trying to SOLVE these issues, not just talk about them.   

It will not be comfortable; it will not be easy.  But it can be done.  We have to start the process. 

I don’t know why, but I feel a new spirit in Detroit - one where I feel welcome to join with these leaders to help get things done. I am in.  Join me.   

It begins today. 

As a public relations professional, I understand the value of explaining both sides of an issue.  This concept has never been truer than during an election season, specifically the 2008 election season which will (thankfully) wrap up this week.  The American public has been subjected to myriad messages, including mudslinging about a candidate’s character and convoluted facts about issues.  Consequently, many of my friends and family members are confused on who to vote for and which political party really is looking out for their best interests.

As I sat watching a news program with my two year old daughter the other night, a commercial came on television, it showed a picture of a cat and the voice over read “this is not a cat, it is a feline” and my daughter looked at the television and said “yes, it is a cat.”  At that point I thought, ‘a two year old can look at these political ads and realize that they are misleading.’  It was then that I realized that in PR when you are trying to get your message out to you audience, simplify, simplify, simplify!  Sure, my two year old wasn’t the target audience of the party that issued the ad but I was and it wasn’t until a two year old pointed out the humor of the ad that I really took notice. 

It was after that night, I went online to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan Web site and spent three minutes reading about the proposals on the Michigan ballot.  They were clearly explained and I easily formed my opinion and knew which way I would be voting on Nov. 4.  I couldn’t help but think, ‘why didn’t someone just say this in the beginning?’

As I said before, I understand trying to explain both sides of an issue but sometimes PR folks become so entrenched in an issue that their explanations become too complex to understand and in turn, people tune out the messages. 

This elections season has not been short of learning experiences for the PR industry, but I believe that one of the most important examples of effective public relations has been that people will respond better to a simple truth rather than a complex answer that leaves them more confused and feeling vulnerable.

Photo by Hoosierguy at flickr.com.