OBAMA - CONTROLLING YOUR MESSAGE

News headlines of Barack Obama’s speech last night to the NAACP’s 99th annual convention were all about “Obama Tells NAACP Blacks Must Take Responsibility.” Responsibility was a small portion of a 23 minute presentation punctuated by thunderous applause and standing ovations. We were all curious as to how Obama would address the issue of personal responsibility that touched off Jesse Jackson Senior’s ire.

No one knows about responsibility better than an NAACP member. NAACP members’ forefathers and foremothers were responsible for the economic engine of the old South. Their forefathers and foremothers have been the backbone of the backbreaking work of modern America. They want the rights that go with responsibility.

Obama urged ALL parents, as well as government and corporations, to be more socially responsible, leading by example, doing more in our own lives and in our own communities. He also spoke about health care and education and employment and taxes and much more.

You can’t control the press – and in a free society no one should. Just as news organizations can pick and choose what they want to highlight or report, we in fundraising can carefully craft our messages for our captive audiences. We can control our messages. However, communications that are not coordinated between service providers, public education departments, management or the fundraising arm of the organization become less effective. At worst, we can shoot ourselves in the foot!

Marketing, public relations, communications of all types, including for some advertising, are integral parts of a Development Plan. Call me if you’d like to discuss yours – 847/227-7174.