Kristofer Eisenla2013-05-25T12:16:41-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=kristofer-eisenlaCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Kristofer EisenlaGood old fashioned elbow grease.Cape Town's Stunning Beauty And Deep Historytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.14326472012-04-22T08:00:00-04:002012-06-22T05:12:02-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/around the world adventure was Cape Town, South Africa. At the most southern tip of the African continent and discovered by the Portuguese and then the Dutch, the Cape is known for both its beauty and history. Flanked by towering mountains and sandy beaches, the city offers something for everyone.
The sights of Cape Town are among some of the most gorgeous and breathtaking I have ever experienced. Taking the rotating aerial cable way up 2,500 feet to the top of Table Mountain provides excellent views of the city - from the world cup soccer arena to its port and to the sea. Sitting downtown, you will jump out of your seat when the daily Noon Day Gun goes off signaling its colonial roots. Cape Town's natural beauty also extends to its beaches where visitors can sit quietly in coves surrounded by rocks and sand without the hustle and bustle of shops, cafes and restaurants. Just imagine lying on sandy beaches with steep mountains to one-side and the cool water of the Atlantic to the other.
Cape Town's pristine beauty is matched by a rich history that often causes controversy - even today. As one of South Africa's most famous sons, former President Nelson Mandela is engrained in the country's historical fabric. It's just a short 35-minute ferry ride to Robben Island, the site of his island home for decades, the former political prison. While on the island, visitors can take a tour of the facilities given by an ex-political prisoner who offers his own stories of imprisonment and those of its other renowned tenants, including Mandela. With the island being a constant reminder of the price of freedom, the eventual end to apartheid led to the celebration of crucial holidays throughout South Africa, including Human Rights Day and Mandela Day. But, the trip could not be complete without a visit to Langa, one of the Cape Town's oldest and largest townships. I was not only struck by the levels of inequality within the community itself, but also the uplifting spirits of the many children - who happily posed for pictures - that live and grow up there. However, the lack of education about HIV and AIDS prevention has resulted in a growing health crisis in the townships with increasing infection rates. My own experience taught me that access to accurate education about prevention is the only way to eradicate the disease.
It is the Cape where both beauty and history meet, much like the blending of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western tip of the African continent. Driving through and around mountains surrounded by dropping cliffs, you will arrive at Cape Point, the spot where ships and the like could turn to head to Asia or Europe. The blue water for miles offers beauty like no other while the history of the battles for control between the Dutch and British are reminiscent everywhere around the Cape.
With Cape Town's beauty and history, there is also controversy. There is definitely a lingering struggle between the races, something the New York Times found during a recent investigation. The racist speculation in the article was something I questioned as well when visiting, but was also disputed by locals I asked. This struggle and the progression of South Africa as a leader since apartheid on the African continent continues to be questioned today. During a recent BBC World News interview, the country's last white president, F.W. de Klerk, asserted that the African National Congress (ANC) has put the country's advancement into jeopardy.
Whether you visit Cape Town for fun or business, you will not be disappointed in the stunning sights or rich history lesson you get during your visit. It's even affordable and will not put a hole in your budget. While it's the most southern place on earth I have been, its also certainly among the most gorgeous places on earth I have been. And, I can't wait to visit again!
For More of Kristofer's Around the World Trip Adventure, visit his blog, Crossing the Dateline.]]>Enjoying Sydney's Delightstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.13362222012-03-13T07:00:00-04:002012-05-13T05:12:02-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/Sydney, Australia. After nearly three weeks in the capital city, I found myself seriously missing it when leaving for Beijing, China. I found Sydney to be a very welcoming international city with much to offer from great sightseeing to friendly people, but very expensive - something I did not count on before I arrived. Regardless of the cost, it was still an incredible time that left me with lasting memories. The weather was hot and steamy for the first week, but quickly turned to sudden and frequent rain downfalls.
Sydney had many things to offer when it came to sightseeing and I tried to see them all - almost. But, the highlight of my time in Sydney would have to be visiting the areas in and around the bay, including Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The towering Bridge sticks out like a sore thumb beyond Sydney's iconic structure, the Opera House, which sits on the bay. These are two incredible sights that you may have seen on television, but are amazed with when standing beside them - whether its in broad daylight or while lit-up like a Christmas tree at night. They are definitely must-do's for any visitor to the city.
While in Sydney, I was lucky enough to take part in Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2012. From the elaborate parade to the beat thumping parties to the weeks of celebration, it was certainly an international event with people from all over the world taking part in the annual LGBT festivities. Oxford Street, a major drag in the Central Business District, was lined with posters and flags as it prepared for the parade. Despite the rain downpour, the parade and other festivities went on without even the slight interruption. As an added bonus, local hero and star, Kylie Minogue, was the featured performer at the main event with a medley of her greatest hits.
I mentioned above that it was expensive and I was not joking. Before I left, I didn't do my homework to see how strong (or not) the U.S. dollar was against its Aussie counterpart. In fact, it's a little weak - the Australian dollar is worth a tad bit more compared to America's green; so be prepared for your money not to go as far as you would expect. While I tried to eat on about $50 AUS a day in Oz (which was doable most days), I could easily spend $17-20 on a burger, chips and coke or $12-14 on a chicken kebab. You can also eat very cheaply along Oxford Street with the many cheaper kebab and pizza places; however, the pizza is not that great. In fact, one place boasts a New York slice, but it neither tasted like New York pizza nor was it as cheap - it was $6 per slice. Jokingly, I told the counter guy that real New York pizza was delicious and only cost about one American dollar per slice. His response: go eat New York pizza, LOL. Beer and cocktails are pretty expensive as well ranging from $8-10 AUS; and note, liquor is strictly measured per drink.
Some of the other major sights I had the opportunity to check-out and are worth seeing are the view and attractions at Darling Harbour: Sydney's Aquarium and National Martime Museum. But, the Sydney Tower Eye downtown, offers a fantastic panoramic view for miles of the city and its suburbs. Just a tip: while the entry tickets can get pricey, the attractions offer deals for purchasing combination entries to more than one place. However, any visitor should visit the Circular Quay station and take a short ferry ride to see either the northern beaches or eastern suburbs. Whether heading to Manly or the Zoo or Watson Bay, which offers a view of where the ocean meets the bay, it's a nice way to get out of the city without getting out of the city. Finally, you cannot visit Sydney without going to the world renown, Bondi Beach - make sure you pronounce it correctly! With its incredible sand and water, it certainly lived up to its reputation for being beautiful and enjoyable (minus the sunburn I got: note, put sunscreen on before you lay out!).
I had a brief taste of Australian politics at its best -- or worst if you ask an Australian. There was a Labor Party Leadership showdown between the current Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. It had all the classic political partying infighting we are familiar with in the U.S., but with an international twist. It was quite ironic considering the battle for the GOP nod back home. In the end, Prime Minister Gillard kept her job, but awaits a general election battle that will require her to regain the trust and support of the Australian public.
Australia was a great time and while I didn't get to do everything I wanted on this visit, I now have an opportunity to return. I hope to get out of Sydney next time to dive in Cairns and visit the other Aussie cities like Perth and Melbourne. I met some great people, made some new friends and "did Sydney." Overall, it was a terrific stay that left me wanting more.
For More of Kristofer's Around the World Trip Adventure, visit his blog, Crossing the Dateline.
]]>Traveling Around The Worldtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.12242962012-01-25T13:15:00-05:002012-03-26T05:12:01-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/But, how is it perceived abroad? How is the news reported? How will the U.S. presidential campaign be covered internationally? These are important questions that I will have the fortunate opportunity to experience (and hopefully answer) while traveling around the world for the next few months.
As a die-hard politico who has traveled the campaign trail and done time on Capitol Hill, it was a hard decision to leave my firm after two years to take some time off to travel around the world. I love to travel -- and there are so many places that didn't even make the list of this adventure's itinerary. My adventure, Crossing the Dateline (special thanks to @chadhyett), will take me on seven different airlines across 38,000 miles, visiting nine cities on seven continents.
While crossing the dateline on the first leg of my journey, I will then make my way west through Asia, down to South Africa, back up north through Eastern Europe into Russia, then across Scandinavia and back through Western Europe before ending my trip where it begins in Washington, D.C.
I look forward to chronicling this experience by blogging here and elsewhere, posting pictures, providing some history and culture -- and sharing this experience with everyone. To check in with my travels, feel free to follow me @kriseisenla and send me notes along the way. Stay tuned: The adventure begins February 15.]]>Building Your Personal Brandtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8971872011-07-13T16:20:04-04:002011-09-12T05:12:01-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/Gosh, today's job market certainly isn't what it was when I was in college -- and that was just over a decade ago! I remember meeting with college guidance counselors who told me to look for a job that matched my skills. My skills? I didn't think I had any skills then -- wasn't that the point of getting a job?
Whatever you may be thinking when you apply for a job today, you can be sure the employer is asking this: Can this person add value every hour, every day -- more than a worker in India, a robot or a computer? Can he or she help my company adapt by not only doing the job today but also reinventing the job for tomorrow? And can he or she adapt with all the change, so my company can adapt and export more into the fastest-growing global markets? In today's hyperconnected world, more and more companies cannot and will not hire people who don't fulfill those criteria.
I don't think today's college graduates really consider the above. I have interviewed and talked with many college graduates looking for jobs, and I am often left wondering: what makes them different? When I was in college, I was just waiting -- literally waiting -- for an employer to knock on the door and offer me that big job (with a big salary) -- #fail! College graduates and other job seekers must find ways to shine and articulate the value they can bring to a potential employer.
In a previous blog post, "Are you an Apple or Banana?," I made the point that my title really doesn't matter when it comes to describing what I do -- but rest assured, the things I do on a daily basis sure do. People need to differentiate themselves, develop a niche or specialty and add value in their own way.
I recently talked to a soon-to-be college graduate who asked for advice on next steps. I may have been a little cynical and adamant about making the following point:
Whatever you do next -- wherever you go next, the best advice I can offer you is to ensure that you bring value to your employer. Why should they hire you?
The economic climate is turbulent, as Friedman accurately notes. The job market fluctuates up and down. You never know what could happen. Now, this is not to say that you should act as if you are indispensable -- I don't think anyone really is -- but, your value can help your stability and advancement. So can being creative as you roll with the punches of an oft-changing career path.
After a few years (few years -- LOL!) of being in the working world, I have also learned that it's no longer the corporate world my grandfather lived in (he was a company man of the 1960s). People don't stay in jobs for many, many years; rather they jump around and skip along to the next economic heartbeat. Adapting and changing (and recognizing the how) is key to value building!
The start-up of today could easily be the legacy firm gone tomorrow. The food truck business is now the brick and mortar business of yesterday. Find your niche, perfect it and you just might find that big job. ]]>Happy Father's Day, Artietag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8798692011-06-19T08:00:51-04:002011-08-19T05:12:02-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/
Both of my parents died my senior year of high school so my grandparents were really among the few left in my life. I may have been living in California, but Long Island was my second home. While growing up, every summer my brother and I would board a plane to spend time in Syosset with Sophy and Arthur -- my grandparents. Then it may have felt like the longest three weeks of any summer, but those windy fishing trips, afternoons at Jones Beach and dinners at Friendly's have shape my life.
As I grew older and moved to the East Coast for graduate school and my career, it was easy to visit them. At first, I was pulling into Lewis Lane every few months. But, as my grandmother got sick, I made the trips more frequently. My grandfather was relatively in good health, but watching his wife progressively get worse worried him. For the first time, my grandfather took care of her -- paying the bills, organizing the household and even cooking. For a company man of the 1960's, this was a true role reversal.
Sadly, my grandmother passed away during the summer of 2008. I was out in Denver working on the DNC, so after the closing speeches, I hopped on a plane to New York. My grandfather was now alone -- and while his intention was to outlive her, he constantly feared what was next. It was then I decided to be there more for him -- and the trips to Long Island turned into once every five-to-six weeks. I took care of paying the bills and ensuring his last years were spent on his terms in his own home. On my weekend visits, he would talk about growing up in Brooklyn, getting married and serving in the army -- each story underlined with life lesson about the present. They were interesting, historic and most importantly, inspiring. He had accomplished a lot during his long-life and his stories were emblematic of that.
In his nineties and alone, he looked forward to my visits telling his live-in aides that
Kristofer is coming ... my grandson will be here soon
I honestly looked forward to seeing his face when I walked through the door. He would look up like he was pleasantly surprised, cracking just a small grin; but I knew deep inside it was the highlight of his week.
His health quickly started to fail -- he was walking and talking less despite a hearty appetite. On an afternoon during one of our visits, he asked me to take him for a drive through Oyster Bay -- a town transformed since he and Sophy first moved to the area. Driving down the long curvy streets, there would be another story about years past with a new teachable moment.
My grandfather and I may have been miles different, but the life lessons he sublimely taught me have made me the person I am today. His gitty anticipation for my visits with lunch at Red Lobster followed by our dual haircuts at the local barber was time cherished by us both. It may be sad to say, but I didn't fully realize this until he was gone. In many ways, my grandfather had more of a profound effect on my life than my own father.
On Father's Day, I salute you, Artie, and fathers and grandfathers everywhere for being who they are and making an impact in their own special way.]]>Are You an Apple or Banana?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.8775132011-06-15T16:57:37-04:002011-08-15T05:12:01-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/Hamilton Nolan takes the PR industry to task over what we call ourselves in a recent post. I suppose other firms are starting to look inward at what these titles really mean. At one large agency the solution is converting Vice Presidents and such (why so many of them, anyhow?) into Strategists and Connectors. When I worked on Capitol Hill, a title meant everything - what you did, how much you were paid, and your seniority (basically, markers of your importance and influence). The Chief of Staff is the head honcho in the Member office - but, the Staff Director is the boss on the Committee. And, in Washington, we all know what it means to be an intern.
Titles are about pecking order and perceived importance - big deals in PR and in the District. One my former bosses, who was a big deal himself on the 2000 Presidential campaign, first got me to question titles when I asked him what mine would be (I was just starting in politics in DC). I remember him asking: "Some people call themselves Chief Knowledge Officers - what's that mean?" When I was negotiating a move on the Hill, I requested that the title of Deputy Chief of Staff be added to my already branded Communications Director tag in the new office. Why not two titles? I liked the two lines on my business card.
But, seriously, we all know it's not really about the titles - it's about the work we do. I don't really tell anyone I am a Vice President - my grandmother likes to, though, and it's on my Facebook page. But, it's just not a very good description of the work I do.
I work with the media - I help people and organizations become part of the national conversation. I develop story angles, and strategies to connect those with those who matter and help affect change. I like helping people become part of conversations they wouldn't be a part of otherwise. For instance, a tragic pool near-drowning was an important time for a client to appear on NBC's TodayShow, to remind parents and children to be safe in the water this summer. With the threat of a government shutdown, I helped connect a small business association with CNNMoney after a White House meeting to amplify the effect of a shutdown on the economy; and I worked with the same organization to highlight a poll about our federal budget and deficit crisis in the Wall Street Journal.
It's about the work, not the title. I even helped my firm win an award for connections like these. I will admit, the title sounds cool and makes some of us feel like we are doing a good job. And I'm not sure I could come up with a better one. Nolan knocks down the Strategists and Connectors, proposing fruits instead. Why not Banana and Apple, he asks? Nolan's right, the title doesn't really matter. But my grandmother would probably prefer Vice President to Apple, so I'm sticking with what I have. At least until I get a promotion.
This is crossposted with Widmeyer Communications blog. A special h/t to Paul Fain for his help and collaboration.
]]>AIDS Day: Ex-Modestan Talks About Disease That Claimed Both his Parentstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7442902010-09-29T16:58:15-04:002011-05-25T17:55:20-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/
My family's secrets closed the door on my childhood prematurely.
When my parents died of AIDS in 1994, I was 17 -- and one of the only people who knew they were infected. Even my brothers were in the dark until my mother died one month after my father. In Modesto -- a town that could be anywhere in America -- something like this could not possibly happen.
But it did.
My family experienced HIV and AIDS in Jesse Helms' America, when Congress wrote the disease's stigma into law. When my father told me he had AIDS and my mother was positive, I pictured Ryan White. Kept from going to school because he had AIDS, that boy was the symbol of "innocent" victims. I quickly learned it wasn't about innocence or guilt -- just those deserving of compassion.
AIDS was not only an image for us; it was our way of life, full of everyday rituals that I carried out. I gave shots and prepared drug cocktails. I took care of them as best I could. And I kept their secrets. From my brothers, relatives, friends -- from everyone.
HIV/AIDS was the dark cloud that hovered over my head no matter what else I was experiencing -- and I wasn't the infected person. I dealt with my pain in silence while the disease slowly took over, and eventually ended, my parents' lives.
During the 1980s, when my parents learned that they were infected, being diagnosed with HIV was a death sentence. From its beginning as an unknown plague with unknown causes, the disease continued to perpetuate fear even after its transmission and means of prevention were established. We had a president who would not speak about it and a public who associated it with gay men in big cities -- people that many did not respect or accept. Misinformation thrived, but sympathy did not. So my parents hid their illness from everyone.
Over 25 million people worldwide have lost their battle with AIDS -- and transmission rates are not slowing. In fact, according to amfAR, transmission rates nationally have remained at the same level for the past decade.
The disease cuts across every major community. In 2007, racial and ethnic minorities represented the majority of new AIDS cases in the U.S. The share of women living with the disease has more than tripled since the epidemic began; and heterosexual transmission has accounted for a growing share of new HIV infections, 31 percent in 2006.
Although infection rates haven't improved, the lives of people with HIV/AIDS have. My parents would be shocked that the medicine regimen has shrunk to just one pill a day. People are not only living longer, but they are doing so "undetected," without any sign of the disease.
Unfortunately, the stigma is living a long life, too. I vividly remember my mother being too embarrassed to discuss her illness with her own doctor. Over 15 years later, my mother, and thousands like her, would be disappointed in how little has changed.
Fifty-one percent of respondents to a 2009 Kaiser Family Foundation survey said they would be uncomfortable having their food prepared by an infected person. Despite everything we have learned, over one-third of young people still harbor misconceptions about how the disease is spread.
Information has been available for over two decades, but has not reached enough of us.
Attitudes like these are not only prevalent in small cities or towns; they're everywhere.
Both the stigma and ignorance about risk factors reduce the likelihood that people will get tested, which is part of the reason amfAR estimates over 20 percent of those infected are unaware. The stigma is killing people. Infection rates are not going to go down until we address it.
I know that if my parents were alive and infected today, they could expect to survive, live well, and know my brothers and me as the adults we have become. I don't know whether they would still keep secrets. I don't know whether we have come so far that they would not feel the need to.
World AIDS Day is a day to remember. A day to remember those you know who have passed away or who are still fighting the virus. The days of shame felt by my mother may be less obvious, but continue to exist. To honor all those touched by AIDS, we must combat the growing stigma that still remains in our society by moving beyond the old stereotypes and lasting misconceptions.
Eisenla now lives in Washington, D.C., where he serves as deputy chief of staff and communications director for Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado, working on health care policy.
This op-ed was originally published by The Modesto Bee on December 1, 2009. ]]>Kristofer Eisenla Does the DNCtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.7442852010-09-29T16:51:53-04:002011-05-25T17:55:20-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/
Long before Kristofer Eisenla became deputy chief of staff and communications director for U.S. representative Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), he campaigned for Clinton marching around the living room of his staunchly Republican grandparents' home with a sign he'd crafted himself. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine 16 years later he'd be so actively involved in the planning of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
In one of my earliest political memories, I'm marching around my grandparents' house with my homemade "Clinton for President" sign while watching the 1992 Democratic National Convention on television. As staunch Republicans, my grandparents were certainly baffled by their grandson, who knew little about politics at the time but who clearly was leaning toward the opposite end of their position on the political spectrum.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be so actively involved in the planning of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. In fact, over a year ago I sat in a stuffy Capitol Hill cafeteria weighing the pros and cons of working for congresswoman Diana DeGette as her deputy chief of staff and communications director. She represented Denver and would become the congressional host of the 2008 convention. And that was the clincher -- by signing on with Ms. DeGette, I would have the opportunity to work on the convention. Being gay played no role in my decision, but I would soon find out that being gay presented me with a one-of-a-kind opportunity representing her on the Executive Host Committee.
We all know a lot about the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. We know it was truly successful on every level, particularly for the LGBT community, whose presence this year far exceeded that of previous conventions. We saw LGBT delegates represented at almost every event; we saw a sea of rainbow flags; we saw Michelle Obama attend the official LGBT luncheon; and we saw scores of delegates and supporters attend the Human Rights Campaign's Rock to Win concert. The LGBT community was not only included, but visible to a degree never seen before.
What you may not know is that, for months leading up to that historic week in late August in which Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee, rank-and-file members of the LGBT community were hard at work planning a diverse and inclusive convention -- not just for their own community, but for the Democratic community at large. Those working on this year's convention included members of the African-American, Latino, and Asian communities, and gays and lesbians were also represented at the highest levels of convention planning in Denver. My personal story is no different -- it's peppered with so many eye-opening experiences that have now made me a stronger professional because of my unique vantage point working on the convention.
Immediately after moving to Denver, I was thrown into the center of the preparations for the thousands to descend on the city. It was all hands on deck -- whether it was designing the logistics for delegates to maneuver around the city, making our fund-raising targets, or talking up convention planning with local and national reporters, I was ready and willing to make this convention a success like everyone else.
As I represented Representative DeGette around that big oval table in the center of the mayor's office for our weekly Executive Committee meetings, I not only felt welcomed to express my perspective but was expected to speak up. Whether it was discussing event preparations with the mayor of Denver or financial goals with Colorado's soon-to-be senior senator or ticket distribution with the Obama campaign, regardless of who I was, those planning the Denver convention gave me a seat -- a front seat -- at the table.
It was, however, also important to me that LGBT Americans unable to come to Denver felt empowered by this convention. Working with the Human Rights Campaign, I made certain there was an LGBT media liaison working alongside convention media operations so that those across America could feel like they were on top of the news that affected our community. All in our community, whether in Denver or Seattle or Jacksonville, had a stake in what began in Denver.
We learned from 2004 exit polls that LGBT Americans represented 4% to 6% of the electorate, a crucial number that could decide the outcome of the 2008 contest in a number of battleground states, including Colorado, New Mexico, and even Virginia. LGBT Americans could tip the scales come this November.
The great thing about working on the 2008 Democratic National Convention was whether you were a communications director for a member of Congress like myself, or the chief technology officer for the Democratic National Convention Committee, or even the deputy campaign manager for our party's nominee, as LGBT Americans we all had an important role in making this convention a success, not only for our community but for the entire Democratic community.
As a gay man, the openness and inclusiveness that I felt working on the 2008 convention in Denver is truly emblematic of the Democratic Party I chose to root for in my grandparents' living room. And now, as someone who knows a great deal more about politics, I understand why.
Eisenla is the deputy chief of staff and communications director for U.S. representative Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).
This article was originally posted on the Advocate.com on March 12, 2009. ]]>What's Your Twitter Handle?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.5611222010-05-03T12:58:47-04:002011-05-25T16:20:27-04:00Kristofer Eisenlahttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristofer-eisenla/
The creation of online newspapers and blogs -- HuffingtonPost, AmericaBlog, and TalkingPoints Memo -- have provided instant reporting of breaking political and policy news. Online news outlets have turned the 24-hour news cycle on its head by creating a vehicle for citizen journalists who can report in not just innovative ways, but instantly. Politico Ben Smith's "running conversation about politics" breaks news all day delivering a summary to your in-box at day's end. Social media has truly revolutionized the way the news is reported. An MSNBC producer recently told me that he reads his Twitter feed prior to his morning assignment meeting.
Everyone wants to be on television to advance their issue or cause, and the general rule was, first, get it in print. Then the tv producers will start calling. To a certain degree, the rule still holds - but it's not the only rule these days. I advise my clients that investing in social media gives you that competitive edge. Whether it's hosting a Facebook chat, tweeting the news first, or blogging regularly - having a profile in the digital space provides just another vehicle for your message. And people are listening on the other end - a whole online community of bloggers, followers, and fans.
Once fearing social media, I now embrace it. Its flexibility and ease is an important communications strategy. When I asked the same MSNBC producer about the next "it" thing? He didn't know, but if he did, we all would be doing it, he said laughing.
