Press Office Follies
A TAPster shares this AP story:
“RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue’s staff is taking the blame for failing to alert the North Carolina public sooner that the governor had declared a state of emergency for nearly 40 eastern counties for the approaching Hurricane Irene.
“Perdue’s press office announced late Thursday morning her declaration, which sets in motion mechanisms for state emergency officials to respond to the storm, activate the National Guard and lay the groundwork for Perdue to seek federal financial assistance.
“But Perdue had actually signed the declaration early Wednesday evening and didn’t mention it at a media briefing Thursday morning.
“Perdue spokesman Mark Johnson said it was the press office’s mistake that the declaration wasn’t announced sooner. He said the governor didn’t mention it because she believed a news release about it already had been sent.”
“So the governor sent this email out to reporters AFTER holding a 9am press conference. But she apparently signed the disaster declaration the day before….Does this strike you as odd? I always thought the governor would want to be out there in front of the cameras/microphones showing that she’s in charge of the situation. But…she didn’t mention it. On the other hand, she posted this ‘welcome message’ for students where she took a shot at Republicans for budget cuts. Any thoughts?”
Press Office Follies
A TAPster shares this AP story:
“RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue’s staff is taking the blame for failing to alert the North Carolina public sooner that the governor had declared a state of emergency for nearly 40 eastern counties for the approaching Hurricane Irene.
“Perdue’s press office announced late Thursday morning her declaration, which sets in motion mechanisms for state emergency officials to respond to the storm, activate the National Guard and lay the groundwork for Perdue to seek federal financial assistance.
“But Perdue had actually signed the declaration early Wednesday evening and didn’t mention it at a media briefing Thursday morning.
“Perdue spokesman Mark Johnson said it was the press office’s mistake that the declaration wasn’t announced sooner. He said the governor didn’t mention it because she believed a news release about it already had been sent.”
“So the governor sent this email out to reporters AFTER holding a 9am press conference. But she apparently signed the disaster declaration the day before….Does this strike you as odd? I always thought the governor would want to be out there in front of the cameras/microphones showing that she’s in charge of the situation. But…she didn’t mention it. On the other hand, she posted this ‘welcome message’ for students where she took a shot at Republicans for budget cuts. Any thoughts?”