CBS goes Purple

It was a proud day to be a HORNED FROG! We arrived at the CBS News bureau (15 minutes early – an accomplishment after our directionally challenged adventures yesterday) this morning with high expectations – we weren't disappointed!

Mr. Bob Schieffer’s memorabilia-filled office offered the perfect back drop for our conversation which included everything from how his journalistic career started to the current political climate. We sat in comfortable worn-leather chairs and couches as different members of the CBS news organization stopped by. After an hour, I was on an information overload – so many amazing stories, examples and advice, I almost couldn’t keep up with everything. Nonetheless, I walked out of the CBS office today with a whole new appreciation for journalists AND a better understanding of the importance of developing a relationship with them during my public relations career.

I enjoyed talking with and learning about the career of CBS Legal Correspondent Jan Crawford. She offered a unique perspective on journalism as a career because she came to CBS via law school. She started at the "Chicago Tribune", began Law School at the University of Chicago, went back to the Tribune, made her way to Washington and CBS, moved to ABC for a few years and is now back where she belongs – at CBS. Her expertise and the respect she gained over the year’s shows the importance of understanding the complexities of the topics you are communicating and/or reporting on.

Additionally, she offered insight into the tough balancing act of having an successful career while having a family. Even Bob commented on how he missed out on his children growing up and the importance of being prepared to make sacrifices. This was oddly comforting and disconcerting – on one hand we know others have gone through similar experiences and survived making difficult, often life-changing decisions. On the other hand, Bob and Jan were blunt about how there WILL BE difficult compromises that could lead to having regrets about your personal and/or professional life.

I also enjoyed learning more about the news process – being a PR person, I was enthralled with stats like CBS running for four days straight after 9/11 and having the opportunity to watch a taping of the CBS daily web cast "Washington Unplugged" (view the video from today here). It was also interesting to listen to their past experiences (both in Bob’s office and at lunch) and future predictions of what will happen in the future to our fields.

I should have asked more questions about how journalists develop relationships with PR professionals and what qualities they look for in potential PR sources. I also wish we could have talked more about how the networks are no longer gatekeepers for news, especially political news, but instead working to prevent bloggers and social media forums from communicating inaccurate, partisan information.I think that CBS has now become an authority that communicates information that has been checked and re-checked.

Beyond that, the whole day was insightful and educational. I am more excited than ever to spend the next four months in this professional, political environment. Note: Bob was wearing a TCU purple, horned frog tie, but not his legendary purple socks. This was a minor let-down but I was gratified by Jan sporting a deep purple shirt for the web cast - Go Frogs!