"My last interview was with Time magazine about the expiring execution drugs. When they found out, they positively came unglued that I did what I was getting paid for. They even admitted the interview read well, they just didn't want the issue in the media. They just wanted to keep issues like the CO shortage and the outdated execution drugs as far out of the media as possible." Mr. Hurt went on to explain, "The admin suffers from intellectual incest. They all live in a little town, went to the same little college in Huntsville and are terrified of new ideas." Mr. Hurt then offered his ideas on how to change the face of the public information office and the agency in general. "Moving the agency to Austin would be in everyone's best interest." "I tried to show them how to position themselves in a positive light and they didn't want any part of it. I've never worked in a stranger place."Sounds about right. Now, of course, we know they didn't want the execution drug issue in the media because they'd conspired with a now-recalcitrant pharmacist to secure the drugs on the "down low," as he put it.
That said, I'm not sure moving them to Austin would help, though it's possible. Lately, Grits has come to consider both the TDCJ and Department of Public Safety PIOs basically worthless, and DPS headquarters are in the capital. To get any useful information out of either of those agencies these days requires an open records request, even for routine, workaday stuff that a few years ago would have been routinely disclosed by their media relations folks without going through that formal process. So I'm not surprised by Mr. Hurt's comments, but I'm glad he was willing to offer them publicly.
MORE: From The Dallas Observer.
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7 comments:
Yeah, those country hicks over in Huntsville obviously can't be expected to achieve a level of sophistication and liberal enlightenment anywhere close to that of the intelligentsia in the People's Republic of Travis County! What a pompous A$$!
At least he was willing to make his criticisms under his own name, 9:29, which puts him one up on cowards like you spewing anonymous bile.
The issue isn't sophistication or enlightenment, it's transparency and accountability. DPS HQ is in Austin and as I said in the post, they're no better. But that doesn't change the fact that TDCJ thinks its PIO's main job is covering up information instead of providing it.
I would characterize the TDCJ PIO's mission as controlling the message, rather than simply covering it up. Much more insidious but not unexpected given the amount of litigation on this particular issue. Would bet dollars to donuts Mr. Hurt did not consult with his Gen. Counsel or the AG
Shame on you Mo Fo
He WAS controlling the message, Skifool. TDCJ didn't want the issue discussed at all. Problem is, when you do that, journos will file their story anyway and then TDCJ's message isn't included. It's just an amateur move.
Change the name to PDO -Public DISinformation Office.
The problem with the PIO is Bryan Collier micro-managed the Public Information Office. Collier is no expert on public relations and would not allow the PIO to respond properly to media request. False information was given to some journalist in an attempt to kill a story. False information was given to the media and politicians about staffing issues. The agency lacks serious credibility and has retaliated against too many people for too many years. Mr Hurt is speaking the truth about the unethical culture in the agency. I would disagree about the agency needing to be moved to Austin. Even Austin run agencies lack credibility, look at the Texas Youth Commission.
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