Elk Grove's SOI a Case Study in Nonexistant Local TV Enterprise Reporting, How City Grinds PR

November 7, 2013 |

How many times since Mayor Gary Davis took his oath last year have you turned on one of the local TV news report to see his honor mugging for the camera?

Below is but one example of a local TV news story spinning a positive story on the city.

In the aftermath of the city's stunning SOI defeat at the hands of LAFCo, if people were searching for news on Wednesday's hearing, as of this evening based on our research, there were three sources and none of them where our local TV news outlets.

Why, you may ask, have there been no TV reports on the SOI hearing. That is actually a two part answer.

The first part, simply put, is that Sacramento TV news reporters are not enterprise reporters. In other words, they don't go out and develop a news story on their own enterprise. Put another way - they are lazy.

So how it is they find out about Elk Grove's desire say to build a $100 million professional soccer stadium? To use addiction therapy parlance, they are greatly aided by enablers.

In this case the enabler is typically a public information officer (PIO).

Typically what happens is a city's PIO contacts local TV media, who after all have more reach than other media and pitches the non-enterprising reporter on a story. With lots of times to fill on their extended news programs, the TV new director typically agrees and rolls out a camera and reporter.

Those in attendance at last night's LAFCo meeting may have noticed Elk Grove's PIO in the audience. Had the decision gone Elk Grove's way, undoubtedly the PIO would have immediately sent an email press release and been on the phone trying to line up early morning TV interviews with the Mayor in front of either the SOI area or city hall.

Obviously the decision did not go the way the city had hoped and those interested in the story read it here, in the Bee or Citizen. As far as we could see, there were no reports of it on local TV.

Now mind you, we are not faulting the city's PIO; remember the P is for public as in public relations. A PIO's job is to provide information to news media, the public and to positively promote their client.

Rather we fault the lazy non-enterprising TV news reporters and news directors. So the next time you see his honor Mayor Davis promoting some new scheme on TV, keep in mind that the non-enterprising reporter was probably pitched the story by the PIO in hopes of putting the city in a good light and to influence public opinion.