Department Of Justice Hires Blog Outreach Person

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/torture/department-of-justice-hires-blog-outreach-person/


Department Of Justice Hires Blog Outreach Person


Here’s an interesting sign of the times: Obama’s Department of Justice has hired someone to do new media outreach for the whole department — the first time Justice has created such a role.

A source confirms that Justice has tapped Tracy Russo, who did blog outreach for John Edwards’ presidential campaign, as the agency’s chief new media outreach person. The hire reflects a recognition that some of the most important coverage of stories involving the Justice Department is taking place on the blogs.

One of the biggest stories involving Justice in very recent years — the U.S. Attorney purge scandal — was broken by my alma mater, Talking Points Memo, and unfolded there and subsequently on other blogs. The blogs have helped drive other Justice stories this year, such as the release of the torture memos and the debates over how to dial back Bush-era executive power.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on the broader trend: More and more government agencies, as opposed to political campaigns, are hiring blog outreach people to manage coverage in the blogosphere, which is playing an increasingly influential role in policy fights, not just political ones.

[depakid]

1. Considering what's been going on (and not going on) at Justice- they're going to need more

than outreach.

The Department's still a disgrace.

[merh]

2. your link goes to a Sotomayor article.

I think it is good the DOJ has created this post.

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks, merh. Fixed. ANd I think it's a good idea, too. Good

to see some respect for the blogs.

[gkhouston]

4. That's a nice shade of lipstick, but I wish the DoJ were expending its energy on pig pursuit. n/t

[jkshaw]

5. Good news, babylonsister.

I remember when Hatch and Bennett here in Utah did not even have an email address. They "preferred hearing from constituents by regular mail." This was when a large percentage of senators and congressmen had email and invited comments through email. Slowly Utah moves toward the 21st century, but I'll bet that for Hatch and Bennett, blogs are illegitimate as of now.