Royals' PR

BOTTOM LINE COMMUNICATIONS

"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much...." Oscar Wilde

K.C. ROYALS: PR NIGHTMARE ON AND OFF THE FIELD

The Kansas City Royals' PR blunders never cease. As if the players on the field aren't bad enough, it is proving that its management is equally inept.

Bob Fescoe, morning talk show host on the Border Patrol on WHB-810, and Rhonda Moss, afternoon talker on KCSP-610, had their press credentials revoked (6/9) by the Royals for asking tough questions during a disastrous press conference hosted by the Royals (see below) Thursday (6/8). Ironically, Fescoe's employer, WHB-810, is the flagship station for Royals broadcasts.

In fact, Moss received word that her credentials were being revoked in a phone call from the Royals' PR head while she was sitting in the press box at Kauffman Stadium prior to the game. She left the stadium on her own accord. Initially she was fearful that she might lose her job with the station, but said Entercom has been totally supportive.

Moss said she had attempted to go through normal media channels with the Royals trying to request an interview with owners David or Dan Glass dating back to May 30, but was repeatedly ignored. David Glass has a bad track record with the news media dating back to 1992 (see story below).

Because of the Royals' refusal to allow interviews regarding the firing of GM Allard Baird earlier, the news conference announcing the hiring of a new GM was the first opportunity they had to discuss the issue. They took advantage of the opportunity.

"Very simply, my credentials were revoked for asking questions," she told BLC (6/10). "As a journalist, I was just doing my job."

The Royals most likely would have tried to ban at least one reporter from the Kansas City Star, however, it is very difficult to yank credentials from journalists who are members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

The PR damage by this action of the Royals will cause long-term problems between the Royals and all news media. It is one of the dumbest moves ever undertaken by a professional sports team.

Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock (9/10) wrote a superb column discussing the issue, including noting the support shown Moss by Entercom Communications and the lukewarm response by WHB and its owner/talk show host Kevin Kietzman to the Fescoe situation: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14785160.htm

DISLIKE OF MEDIA BY GLASS DATES BACK TO 1992...

In 1992, NBC news series Dateline interviewed David Glass during an investigation into Wal-Mart's "Made in America" and "Bring It Home to the USA" marketing campaigns.

The show aired footage of children working in factories in Bangladesh making clothes destined for Wal-Mart, as well as footage of Wal-Mart stores with "Made in America" signs hung over imported goods.

When asked about children in Asia working in sweatshop conditions, Glass' reply was "You and I might, perhaps, define children differently," and then said that since Asians are quite short, one can't always tell how old they were.

Glass was shown photographs of one factory that burned down with the children still locked inside. He responded, "Yeah...there are tragic things that happen all over the world." Glass stormed out of the interview, which was terminated immediately by Wal-Mart.

Chicago Tribune (6/11): Two Kansas City, Mo., sports-talk radio reporters, Bob Fescoe of WHB and Rhonda Moss of KCSP, who asked contentious questions at a news conference introducing Dayton Moore as Royals general manager, had their credentials revoked by the team for the remainder of the season.

BLC PROVIDES FREE MEDIA ADVICE TO ROYALS...

Jeffrey Flanagan's column (below) in the Kansas City Star (6/9) pointed out how poorly the Royals are dealing with the media these days.

As a public service, we at Bottom Line Communications are willing to provide a quick refresher course in basic media relations for the team (we will have to charge if they require additional help):

Rule 1---Don't lie to the media, particularly when it is so easy to prove you are lying.

Rule 2 --- If you are introducing the team's new general manager then let him be the focal point of the event, not team president Dan Glass.

Rule 3 --- Never call those folks who buy their ink by the barrel liars. They tend to get a bit testy when their integrity is questioned.

Jeffrey Flanagan, Kansas City Star

Dan Glass: Family tries to emulate Kauffman

Royals president Dan Glass has heard the same rumors that began floating the minute Allard Baird’s job came in jeopardy: that the Glass family, especially Dan, routinely makes or interferes with the team’s baseball decisions.

Owner David Glass has dismissed the notion several times in the last few weeks.

And Dan Glass, who has seemingly been quiet in the media lately, echoed his dad’s sentiments in a private moment after the Dayton Moore news conference Thursday.

“I understand people are looking for someone to blame,” Dan said. “And we’re the easy targets. There are 29 other owners who have to deal with the same criticism that they interfere with baseball decisions.

“I can assure you we don’t. We try to run this organization the same way the Kauffman family did. You hire good baseball people, and then you support them and let them make the decisions.”

So, you’ve never demanded that the general manager make a trade?

“No,” Dan said.

You’ve never shot down a free-agent signing or a trade?

“No,” Dan said. “The only time I get involved is when there may be a lot of money involved, and I think that’s natural. My job is to provide support for the baseball people.”

What about the story a few years back that you personally shot down a Joe Randa trade to the Cubs?

“It was my mistake to have even been talking about that,” Dan said. “I shouldn’t have even commented on it back then, but I did, and that was wrong. It wasn’t like the trade was a done deal and I stepped in. There was a discussion about a possible deal, and there are always discussions about trades, especially at the winter meetings, and I had some concerns about the direction it was going.”

Word has it that the Cubs were hoping the Royals would make the trade for just a Class A prospect in return, and also have the Royals pick up most of Randa’s $4 million salary as well. The Glass family didn’t think that was such a good deal.

As for the future, Dan, like his father, assures everyone that Moore will be making the baseball decisions.

“He’s absolutely the best man for this job,” Dan said. “And my job is to support him and give him the resources he needs to do his job.”