It seems to me like the divide over whether or not the ASM press office would be a good idea comes down to the debate over the exact purpose and function of the office.
Those in support highlight the advantages of increased communication with students. For example, the Critical Badger
… a well-trained group of students can better handle PR for the organization. It will improve ASM-to-student communication, voter turnout, and more effectively balance the efficiency of the organization.
and the DC Editorial Board
Creating a press office will streamline ASM’s contact with students and the press, allowing for a healthy two-way line of communication.
The detractors decry the need for an office to handle ASM relations with the press and don’t mention anything about increased student awareness of ASM. Take the BH Editorial Board
Take for instance their proposed press office. Not only do they expect this office to coexist with ASM’s “grassroots” outreach committee — which would be needless if representatives actually made the effort themselves — but they also believe this office is necessary to communicate effectively with “the media.” Individual members of ASM should be perfectly capable of writing and distributing simple press releases. Appointing a media middleman will not help improve ASM’s legitimacy — direct representation will.
and Ryan Masse
If, by chance, an ASM member does need the press office to distribute a press release, who would be the recipient? ASM coverage is the province of the two student newspapers and a handful of student blogs. Contacting them doesn’t require a press release or any other fancy techniques — it simply requires keeping in contact with a key person or two.
As to what the exact function of said press office will be, I have no idea, but it seems to me if the intent was along the lines of what supporters think, a focus on getting students involved with ASM and increasing voter turnout rather than just issuing press releases, then maybe calling it the press office was a poor choice of name. I know its semantics, but perhaps a name like the public relations office, or even better the student relations office, would have helped clarify the intent of what the exact function of the office would be. An ASM press office kind of makes me think of a gaggle of freshman interns clinging to Gallagher’s coattails and quivering in fear as they speak in hushed whispers about the big bad bogeyman of the Badger Herald, Jason Smathers, and write their next 4 line press release. Then again, when your propose adding a press office and no one in the campus media can seem to agree about what exactly you mean by a press office, that might be the biggest sign of all that you need a press office.
