Colorado Kids Going Hungry. Why?

I attended the annual meeting of the Jeffco Action Center last night. Prior to the meeting, as a board member, we discussed child hunger. The Action Center distributes four tons of food every day. It's a stunning number and double what we distributed just a couple of years ago.

Last night's Keynote Speaker was Chris Watney from the Colorado Children's Campaign who told us that according to just released census statistics for 2000-2009, Colorado has the fastest growing number of kids going hungry in the nation. In perspective, the overall hunger rate here is lower than many other parts of the country but the growth rate is still alarming. Denver County leads in the growth, but seemingly "affluent" communities like Jefferson County are also showing growth. Even here in Douglas County.

It struck me during the presentation that not once, has any candidate at any forum I've attended or in campaign ad I've seen, mentioned child hunger. They're too busy attacking each other and once elected spend most of their time raising money to get re-elected. Meanwhile, kids are going hungry.

So it's up to us. You can help by contributing or volunteering with organizations like the Jeffco Action Center. Another wonderful group is Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. There are many others to choose from in your community.

No kid, anywhere, should ever go hungry. Together we can make a difference. Let's start today.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Hick's Horsin' Around (Again)

Just a bit of a disclaimer that this IS NOT a political endorsement. You're smart enough to make your own political decisions. I'm just making an observation as a PR guy.

Have you seen John Hickenlooper's latest TV spot? The theme is everyone is telling him he has to ride a horse in a political ad. I haven't found the video on YouTube yet, so you'll have to settle for a written description.

While making subtle points about his background as a geologist, restaurant owner and now Mayor of Denver, Hickenlooper is seen suiting up looking like he's getting to ride in a rodeo. In the spot he maintains a stern Clint Eastwood-like visage.

Unlike just about every political stuffed shirt who usually wears starched shirts and only puts on jeans and boots when campaigning, Hickenlooper doesn't pretend to be something he's not.

Two other points impress me. First, he doesn't take political cheap shots at those running against him. Second, his spots are produced here in Colorado by Colorado people. I guarantee you 90% of the mud-slinging ads you see are produced by companies back east, by people who've never been to Colorado. Heck, they don't even know where Colorado is.

So thank you (again) Mayor Hickenlooper for opening the windows and letting some fresh air into another stuffy political season. Your spots entertain and engage the viewer. Whether or not they agree with you will be decided early next month.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

What Merv Block said.

There's a growing brouhaha about GOP candidate for Colorado Governor Scott McInnis and charges of plagiarism. Read more about it in this Denver Post article and this one from 9NEWS. As for the political ramifications of this, that's up to the candidate and ultimately voters. This post is about plagiarism.

Plagiarism is nothing new in politics (Ask Joe Biden) or journalism. It's why someone invented the word plagiarism.

It's so easily avoided if you just follow a great rule taught to me by news writer extraordinaire Merv Block. I got to know, and more importantly learn from Merv during my 8 years on the board of directors of the Radio-Television-Digital News Association. (RTDNA) Merv used to write for Walter Cronkite and any friend of Uncle Walter is a friend of mine!

"Attribution before assertion," Merv taught me. In other words, before you say it or write it, attribute the source. If anything else, it lends credibility to what you do. It's good journalism.

To be fair, it's easy to plagiarize something and simply not realize it. Maybe a thought comes to mind from something you read or saw years ago. You remember a good point and simply include it without attribution because you honestly didn't think it was needed. Mistakes happen. Mistakes can be corrected. Stealing can't.

For the life of me, I've never understood why respected people make wholesale use of other people's work and claim it for their own. Attribution is easy, it's ethical and again simply lends credibility to what you do.

OK, all that said, it turns out McInnis was paid $300,000 for the articles in question by the Hasan Family Foundation. $300,000!

Nice work if you can get it. If you do, remember: "Attribution before assertion."

Thanks for the many good lessons you taught me Merv. Merv also taught me that good writing is re-writing. I'm still working on that part.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"