Did you read the Kimberley Strassel op-ed piece in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal entitled “Spitzer’s Media Enablers?”

 

She hit damn hard, with great detail, saying the press was Spitzer’s “enabler,” “most reporters were his accomplices” and they were “adoring.”

 

Strassel said, “Yet from the start, the press corps acted as an adjunct of Spitzer power, rather than a skeptic of it. Many journalists get into this business because they want to see wrongs righted. Mr. Spitzer portrayed himself as the moral avenger. He was the slayer of the big guy, the fat cat, the Wall Street titan – all allegedly on behalf of the little guy. The press ate it up, and came back for more.”

 

Strassel cited several media examples, including Time magazine naming Spitzer “Crusader of the Year;” Fortune calling him “the Enforcer,” and Atlantic Monthly “fawning” that he was “a rock star” and “the Democratic party’s future.”

 

Strassel continued, “What makes this more embarrassing for any self-respecting journalist is that Mr. Spitzer knew all this, and played the media like a Stradivarius. He knew what sort of storyline they’d be sympathetic to, and spun it. He knew, too, that as financial journalism has become more competitive, breaking news can make a career. He doled out scoops to favored reporters, who repaid him with allegiance. News organizations that dared to criticize him were cut off. After a time, few criticized anymore.”

 

There’s an undercurrent in the blogosphere – and a little bit with select traditional offline media – that the Fourth Estate ain’t what it used to be. Some people believe reporters aren’t tough enough, investigative enough, relentless enough. They think some political and corporate stories aren’t pursued as aggressively as they should be. They’re frustrated with the media giving too many free rides to people, issues and companies that should get the full treatment.

 

What do you think?

 

Has the high-level print-based U.S. media changed dramatically from, say, the Watergate era when Woodward and Bernstein grabbled hold of their story and never let go? Is it about the same? Or has Strassel painted an unfair picture?    

If the Patriots are successful in winning their fourth Super Bowl in seven years, the team will cement its legacy as one of the true dynasties in the National Football League. Nobody has gone 18-0 in one season, and if they go 19-0, they will likely be remembered as the best team of all time.

 

1. Stay on message – Everybody has a different style, but the bottom line is to stick to your core message. For the Patriots, the message is “one game at a time.”
2. Keep your cool under pressure – Witness any of Tom Brady’s media interviews and he’s as cool in front of the camera as he is in the pocket.
3. We’re a team – With the Patriots, it’s always “we” and never “I.”
4. Trust your management – Bill Belichick has earned the respect of his players and sets the tone in the locker room and on the field.
5. Keep your sense of humor – Plaxico Burress guarantees a 23-17 Giant win? Tom Brady jokingly acts dumbfounded that Plax thinks the Pats will only score 17.
6.  Address issues head on with confidence, then move on – Spygate? It happened and it’s behind us. Rodney Harrison using steroids? He admitted it, served his suspension and moved on.
7. Communicate, communicate, communicate – Every Patriot player knows his role because the coaches effectively communicate their expectations and demand high performance.

Many players have come and gone in the past seven years, but the management and the team philosophy has remained consistent. We can all learn from the Patriots run for perfection.

Go Pats!!! 

I believe such an adjustment would be in Target’s best interests. After all, it’s a grassroots world and consumers are empowered like never before. Anyone can become a blogger. The impact of an ardent voice on a company’s brand reputation can be instant, widespread and profound.