Obama and a Media Love Affair

As Barack Obama settles into the White House as America's first Black President, I'm forced to ask myself how he managed it. A remarkable victory, merely 50 years after the civil rights movements and in one of the most racially segregated country on earth. One has to look to an incredibly steadfast candidate and an outstanding media campaign.

I believe that impressive crisis management and an air tight media campaign have helped him to victory. With no stone left unturned prior to the start of the campaign, the media already knew all there was to know about him without ever having to dig. Despite McCain's best efforts it seems there really was no dirt to be found on Obama, and even what they did manage to muster up just wouldn't stick.

From the beginning his campaign was targeted with a fully thought through approach. The power of spin worked in over-drive from the very start. Initially defining his approach, and perfecting his message, his media team ensured that the party line was towed at all times. I have no doubt that an entire team have been in place for the past year ensuring that each and every article, statement or photo caption issued to the media has been vetted and re-vetted.

The fundamentals of any strong media campaign were adhered to throughout. A strong knowledgeable team who were in bed (so to speak) with the media long before the campaign began, laying the ground work and making contacts. A follow up campaign hit every media outlet including on-line opportunities, with his own facebook and myspace page, websites, blogs ... the World Wide Web was conquered. A strong press campaign followed, with novels published, interviews conducted and the main print and broadcast media all wanting a piece of him. He even managed to have his own celebrity endorsed pop song on u-tube, hype created by his team that the media have lapped up.
At no point did the Obama campaign flounder; there were no internal leaks, no dissention from the ranks. Never has towing the party line been so adhered to and the Obama camp is reaping the rewards now with a campaign that will go down in history.

The media team behind Obama's campaign have proven that with a perfectly executed media campaign anything is achievable. Obviously a charismatic candidate who has no doubt been priming himself, his friends and family for this moment for the majority of his life also helps. Congratulations Barack Obama, a job well done.

Now, all eyes are on the future.