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March 25, 2019 7:13 pm  #1


Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

CityNews did a story Monday night about the provincial PCs somewhat infamous “Ontario News Now” online service, designed to bypass traditional media and get their message out to voters. It prominently mentioned Lyndsey Vanstone, who once toiled for both CFRB and what was then called AM 640 as a very highly successful and well respected producer.
 
But then she took the gig for the government’s “news agency,” which some critics call nothing more than a blatant propaganda arm of the Tories.
 
There’s no doubt that Vanstone has landed a high profile media gig, which I’m quite sure pays her a nice government salary. But it’s also a very polarizing service and one that’s been blasted by many sides.
 
So putting politics aside for a moment, would you take a high paying and high profile position, knowing that all political parties will eventually be replaced by another, and it will one day come to an end?
 
Do you damage your reputation being seen by some as a paid shill who may have left their integrity at the door? And would you be worried that you might not be able to get a future job because this one could come back to haunt you?
 
I don’t know Vanstone, but I’ve always heard good things about her. I just wonder what the future holds for her after she’s done doing this, and whether – if she stays in media – she’d ever be able to land another job in this field because of the baggage her current prominence brings with her.
 
I’m trying to keep politics out of this, so generically speaking, provided you didn’t have an issue with whatever party is in power, would you take a similar job?

I'm not so sure that I would.

 

March 25, 2019 8:06 pm  #2


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

NO.   Short term gain for long term pain.   

 

March 25, 2019 8:12 pm  #3


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

I agree with you, but there's another side to the same argument. A paying gig is a paying gig and a prominent one raises your profile in the industry. 

Mark Towhey is a perfect example. He was a main cog in the craziness of the Rob Ford mayoral wheel before being fired. But that hasn't hurt him - he's a frequent guest on CFRB's panels and has his own show there on Sunday afternoon.

If it hadn't been for that infamous exposure, you might not have ever heard of him. 

     Thread Starter
 

March 25, 2019 8:45 pm  #4


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

yes on two points raised above. #1, a well paying media job is hard to find.  #2, if you do the job well enough to be noticed, future bosses will see the talent rather than the bias.  That said, it's up to the individual to prove the ability to be objective.

what's the difference between being a corporate spokesperson and a political party mouthpiece?  it's all just a gig.

 

March 25, 2019 10:41 pm  #5


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Take it to the extreme.

I can't see me having any respect for any agency which hires Kellyanne Conway or Sarah Saunders in the future.

I get that you have to "put food on the table" but when your personal integrity is up for sale, you've proven you're nothing by a paid mouthpiece whose word can't be trusted.

 

March 25, 2019 10:51 pm  #6


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

splunge wrote:

yes on two points raised above. #1, a well paying media job is hard to find.  #2, if you do the job well enough to be noticed, future bosses will see the talent rather than the bias.  That said, it's up to the individual to prove the ability to be objective.

what's the difference between being a corporate spokesperson and a political party mouthpiece?  it's all just a gig.

Exactly!  It's all just a gig.  Hawking pillows or a political party.  Is there really much difference?

If you do it well, the talent will be evident.  This woman has the talent and I'll bet she will do just fine.
 

Last edited by Peter the K (March 25, 2019 10:52 pm)

 

March 25, 2019 11:45 pm  #7


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Speaking of which...does anyone know what Sean Spicer is doing these days?

I didn't think so.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/07/sean-spicer-book-the-briefing

     Thread Starter
 

March 25, 2019 11:51 pm  #8


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

In a word, yep.

As has already been eloquently stated by r.a., splunge and Peter the K, if you do a good job, you'll find more work.

The public has a short attention span, and memory. If you do ruin/dent your reputation, reinventing yourself is usually possible*, and as well, a fine tradition in the media. While you're waiting for the next gig, there's always podcasts right?

*unless you're that fellow who used to host Q

Last edited by betaylored (March 25, 2019 11:55 pm)

 

March 25, 2019 11:57 pm  #9


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

betaylored wrote:

unless you're that fellow who used to host Q

Or perhaps Mike Bullard.

     Thread Starter
 

March 25, 2019 11:57 pm  #10


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

I suppose the answer could be yes, but if Rebel media is the only place that will welcome her with open arms after the next election, what will she live on? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGy6uV7yqGWDeUWTZzT3ZEg 

I don't see Rebel paying all that much...


RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person. 
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.

 
 

March 26, 2019 12:08 am  #11


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Radiowiz wrote:

I suppose the answer could be yes, but if Rebel media is the only place that will welcome her with open arms after the next election, what will she live on? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGy6uV7yqGWDeUWTZzT3ZEg 

I don't see Rebel paying all that much...

The rebel, the conservatives, maxime bernier's party, ucp in alberta, fraser institute, or any number of neo-con right wing political movements south of the border or the uk.  all are expanding and desperate for their own propagandists. 
 

 

March 26, 2019 9:57 am  #12


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

g121 wrote:

Take it to the extreme.

I can't see me having any respect for any agency which hires Kellyanne Conway or Sarah Saunders in the future.

I get that you have to "put food on the table" but when your personal integrity is up for sale, you've proven you're nothing by a paid mouthpiece whose word can't be trusted.

That will matter to you, and to me as well. Absolutely zero interest aside from perhaps knowing what they're spouting. But they will have their following as well as curiosity seekers who want to know what they're spouting. I don't think objectivity (whether feigned or truly intentional) matters as much, industry-wide, as it has in the past.
 

 

March 26, 2019 11:22 am  #13


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

IIRC, Ben Chin was also an online shill for the Liberals when they were in power in Ontario. Now he's apparently neck deep in the SNC-Lavalin scandal in Ottawa, working for the Ministry of Finance. So perhaps the lesson is you can get another job - it just might not be on air. 

     Thread Starter
 

March 26, 2019 11:07 pm  #14


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

no way... my rep is everything... wait a minute... does hosting every weekend infomercial during my first 2 years of my 4+ years with talk 640 count (including a game show type hour based on legal questions)? well, so much for my rep.

Last edited by the original hank (March 26, 2019 11:08 pm)

 

March 27, 2019 12:48 am  #15


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

RadioActive wrote:

betaylored wrote:

unless you're that fellow who used to host Q

Or perhaps Mike Bullard.

Yep...

Here's a riff on the whole selling your soul question. At times voice actors can and do refuse to voice ads for companies that have products, or services they strongly disagree with. I know some voice actors refuse to audition for commercial work for certain political parties, gas companies, meat companies...

When I worked in radio, there's no way I'd ever do a spot for payday loan companies, or anything along those lines, and as a voice actor I still feel just as strongly, though I believe everyone is free to do whatever works for them...

Now here's the question for those who have done, are doing voice work: Are there a few companies or products you've quietly decided not to audition for, or voice if it was in-house at the radio station you were employed at, or could you, do you see yourself as impartial...

Last edited by betaylored (March 27, 2019 12:55 am)

 

March 27, 2019 7:26 pm  #16


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

 

March 28, 2019 4:51 pm  #17


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Isn't it relatively common for former journalists to get into public relations and marketing? I don't see demand for that drying up in the near future.

I understand people are having meltdowns over Doug Ford, some of which will assuredly continue decades after he's out of Queen's Park, but at the end of the day, he's just a regional politician. You'd have to do something completely insane to tarnish your name by association. Ontario News Now looks like press releases written at a general audience. Sign up for an email newsletter from any of the other major parties and you'll get similar garbage sent to your inbox daily.

Last edited by Retaw (March 28, 2019 4:52 pm)

 

March 28, 2019 7:49 pm  #18


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Retaw wrote:

Isn't it relatively common for former journalists to get into public relations and marketing? I don't see demand for that drying up in the near future.

Not when every PR muffin who can fog up a mirror is dragged in to talk radio panels to provide the Bullshit Industry analysis.

 

March 28, 2019 7:50 pm  #19


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

LocalNewsGuy wrote:

I would suggest it's far more likely that the Toronto Sun won't exist within four years.
 

Postmedia has existed in a zombified state for three years.

 

March 28, 2019 8:10 pm  #20


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Chrisphen wrote:

LocalNewsGuy wrote:

I would suggest it's far more likely that the Toronto Sun won't exist within four years.
 

Postmedia has existed in a zombified state for three years.

Well Warmington & Levy gotta work somewhere ....

 

March 28, 2019 8:12 pm  #21


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

g121 wrote:

Well Warmington & Levy gotta work somewhere ....

...to say nothing of Blatch.
 

 

March 28, 2019 8:16 pm  #22


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Chrisphen wrote:

Not when every PR muffin who can fog up a mirror is dragged in to talk radio panels to provide the Bullshit Industry analysis.

Let's just pause here for a moment and savour the above for its quirky delightfulness. 

 

March 28, 2019 8:30 pm  #23


Re: Would You Take A High Paying Media Gig If It Ruined Your Future Rep?

Chrisphen wrote:

g121 wrote:

Well Warmington & Levy gotta work somewhere ....

...to say nothing of Blatch.
 

For the most part, I don't mind Christie.  While I don't always agree with her, she's miles more credible & capable than Warmington & Levy.