Feder Offers Suggestions For the Next Mayor in Dealing with Press

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 17, 2011 2:00PM

Like a lot of people around town, Robert Feder reacted to the news that Mayor Daley signed with the Harry Walker Agency for post-mayoral public speaking appearances with a bemused "WTF?" (We think Harry Walker should start Daley off with a base of $17,500 per appearance, with a $750 bonus for every Daleyism.)

The best media critic in town is looking ahead to listening to a mayor who won't trip over his (or her) tongue. Today, Feder offers some suggestions and asks some questions regarding how the next mayor should deal with the press.

"Here are a few of the questions I’d ask:

• "How often will you hold press conferences at City Hall?


• "Will you commit to regular appearances on Chicago Tonight and other television and radio news and talk shows? Extended interviews with broadcast, print and online journalists? Meetings with newspaper editorial boards?


• "How would you and your staff use social media — Facebook and Twitter — to communicate and interact with citizens?


• "Whom would you appoint as your press secretary?"

In addition to sometimes treating English as a second language, Daley's relationship with the media has long been antagonistic; at least in the sound bites we hear and quotes we read. But it's also a two-way street and many times the media let Daley off with a pass.