Brandon Long News

2016-01-10T20:44:00.003-05:00

Brandon Long is a News Director for the NBC affiliate in in Macon, Georgia. Previously, he worked as an Anchor/Reporter and Anchor/Managing Editor for this station. He moved to Middle Georgia in 2004 from Tennessee after working in newsrooms at WPTY/WLMT-TV in Memphis and WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

He graduated from The University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Communication and studied television news and political science, and an M.A. in Communication Arts from Austin Peay State University with focused coursework in Media Management, Marketing Communications, and Corporate Communications. He has been active in a number of professional and community organizations, including Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Favorite Quote: "One who beareth the torch, shadoweth oneself to give light to others." The Torchbearer Creed

Articles:

Leading as an Introvert: The Benefits and Risks of Laissez-faire Leadership

How Political Leaders Utilize Traditional and Social Media to Market Themselves as Trustworthy and Credible

The Abolishment of the Non-Entertaining Programming Requirement and the State of Radio News: Effects on Tennessee's Major Markets Since 1985

Leading as an Introvert: The Benefits and Risks of Laissez-faire Leadership

2016-01-10T19:22:00.002-05:00

By: Brandon Long
Assertive, extroverted leaders are generally celebrated as having the best approach to leadership. This review explores the alternative and examines the benefits of leaders who utilize a laissez-faire leadership style and are inclined to lead as introverts. For example, voters in the Republican presidential primary in 2016 are currently faced with choosing from among these two styles as they consider Donald Trump and Jeb Bush. Trump is known for his brashness. In contrast, Bush is known for his more calculated and carefully crafted policy proposals and speeches. Introverted leaders work best with proactive followers because they know how to create an environment that matches raw talent with clear goal-setting to secure success. But, even when leaders who lean toward introversion are faced with followers who are not proactive, they can adapt and manage with techniques characteristic of extraverted leaders to accomplish organizational goals.

Leading as an Introvert: The Benefits and

Risks of Laissez-faire Leadership

Numerous studies have been conducted examining the personality characteristics of leaders and managers, specifically evaluating the effectiveness of their work based on their extraversion. Many of those studies point to the success of extraverted leaders. However, there are circumstances that allow more favorable outcomes for leaders with a more introverted approach to management (Flynn, 2015; Grant, Gino, & Hofmann, 2011; McCormack & Mellor, 2002). While there are many examples that highlight the effectiveness of more assertive leadership styles, a laissez-faire approach to leadership does not necessarily precede a management failure and can actually contribute to a thriving work environment, if the right employees are teamed up with the right manager who utilizes the right approach (Andersen, 2006; Grant et al., 2011). This paper examines under what circumstances introverted leaders are able to achieve success maximum results for their organizations.

Literature Review

Researchers and news publications have studied and opined about the dynamic between introverted and extraverted leaders. This review reveals how personality impacts leadership, explains the range of personalities within the labels of introversion versus extroversion, offers examples of the introverted laissez-faire leadership style and its implications, and offers the benefits of having introverted leaders, managers, and communicators.

How personality impacts leadership

Personality is a contributing factor to effectiveness (McCormack & Mellor, 2002). McCormack et al. (2002) specifically examined how personality impacted leadership in a military culture by measuring the relationship between personality traits, using what’s known as the five-factor model of personality, and leadership effectiveness. The five-factor model of personality characterizes subjects’ Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness (McCormack et al., 2002). In this study, McCormack et al. (2002) determined that effective leaders were lower on the Extraversion scale and higher on the Conscientiousness scale. Both measurements point to greater effectiveness of leaders who have more introverted personalities.

Grant et al. (2011) simulated a business environment in their study of how extraverted leadership styles impacted employee proactivity. Their research (Grant et al., 2011) revealed that leadership style and employee proactivity need to complement each other to improve group performance. Taking that idea a step further, they found that leadership is not only an influence on employee proactivity, but it can also be shaped by employee proactivity (Grant et al., 2011). This means managers can decide how they interact with employees based on their observations of the proactivity level of employees.

Andersen (2005) found there is a relationship between personality, leadership, and organizational effectiveness, but the relationship is low. This study determined personality does not guarantee or forecast if someone will be a good leader (Andersen, 2005). Andersen (2005) concluded there is scientifically no evidence highlighting personality traits that are universally related to leadership and traits of leaders cannot predict if an organization will be effective. The findings also indicated leadership had a minor impact on organizational effectiveness because the success was not determined by who or what the leader was, but was determined by what the leaders do and what they are able to accomplish (Andersen, 2005).

Defining introversion vs. extraversion

Carl Jung’s psychology research first introduced the concepts of extraverts and introverts. (“Extroversion and introversion.,” 2015). Jung observed that extraverts were focused on the external world and acted out their feelings; introverts were more focused on the inward self and are normally contemplative individuals (“Extroversion and introversion.,” 2015). It is important to note that individuals are not locked into a personality type, introversion or extraversion, and may change depending on circumstances that can be learned or practiced, according to data from self-reported surveys (Stephens-Craig, Kuofie, & Dool, 2015). This review aims to explain how these concepts integrate into a leadership communication model.

Judge, Piccolo, & Kosalka (2009) explained that extraverts are considered assertive, active, talkative, and are perceived to be “leaderlike”, but they are also prone to over-estimating capabilities and often fail to provide a clear strategic focus. McCormack et al. (2002) determined introverted leaders were more independent, reserved, and conscientious; conscientiousness was generally connected to leaders who were strong willed, determined, and had academic achievements. One manifestation of introversion is the laissez-faire leadership style. Flynn (2015) described laissez-faire leaders as uninvolved. In the laissez-faire leadership model, the leaders trust followers to make the right decisions; the goal for the leader is to bring in highly trained, reliable members to the organization, who are able to self-monitor, problem solve, and produce successful results (Flynn, 2015).

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush

Examples of laissez-faire introvert leadership styles and implications

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

In the current political discourse prior to the 2016 presidential election, candidate Donald Trump is critical of the apparent introverted personality traits of one of his primary opponents, Jeb Bush (Elkin, 2015). Elkin (2015) explained that Trump has attacked the highly-focused Bush and criticized him for being “low energy” and highlighted how his tactics are working, despite the historic American tradition of celebrating people of character, who place a high value on the inner-self. Trump appeals to the growing segment of the population that values strangers who stand out because of their charisma and extraversion (Elkin, 2015). Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking detailed that introverts are routinely passed over for leadership positions, even though they tend to be very careful and take fewer risks (TED, 2012).

Marquet (2015) illustrated the importance of training teams using a laissez-faire model and the consequences of not doing so. This study explained when teams were not trained for a crisis and they had to wait on the boss for answers, when a crisis occurred and the boss was not there, a disaster was more likely (Marquet, 2015). Marquet’s (2015) research indicated a better solution was to train each member of the team on how to resolve the situation based on stated goals and have the first responder communicate with the team to avert a potential crisis. Generally, laissez-faire leadership is not suitable for environments where members require feedback, direction, oversight, flexibility, or praise but is best with people who are self-directed and highly trained (Flynn, 2015).

In a military setting, officers who were less extraverted and more conscientious than their peers were more likely to be highly rated by their superiors (McCormack et al., 2002). The study showed a connection among the characteristics of low extraversion, high conscientiousness, and openness; people with those characteristics were considered effective leaders (McCormack et al., 2002).

Laissez-faire leadership can have negative effects if the leader fails to provide critical performance based feedback (Hinkin & Schriesheim, 2008). Not only can a lack of feedback prevent a follower from taking corrective action, it can also cause the follower to have a negative perception of the leader and prolonged negative performance from a subordinate (Hinkin & Schriesheim, 2008).

Benefits of having introverted leaders, managers, and communicators

An introverted approach to organizational leadership puts team members into leadership positions, making them leaders who are given control (Marquet, 2015). The situation creates an intent-based leadership environment that results in a workplace where everyone is engaged in contributing their full intellectual capacity, and everyone is able to feel like a leader (Marquet, 2015). This is possible because introverts are listeners and independent thinkers who quietly earn respect through actions, not words, and followers have to be able to take responsibility and perform duties without constant reinforcement (Remund, 2015). Introverted leaders can thrive in the military since they are required to make decisions in isolation and not be overly attached to those under their command (McCormack et al., 2002).

Stephens-Craig et al. (2015) found that introverted leaders are reserved in their actions and decisions, come across as business-like, and don’t get overly excited. They were perceived as introspective, able to “filter” communications, calm, measured, detailed, and sources of stability (Stephens-Craig et al., 2015).

Grant et al. (2011) concluded that when employees were proactive, introverted leadership was associated with higher group performance. This research explains that when employees were proactive, those who lead in a less extraverted style were viewed as more receptive to employee proactivity (Grant et al., 2011). Followers’ proactivity strengthened the performance of groups led by less extraverted individuals. Extraverted leadership is not required for organizational effectiveness, and extraverted leaders may undermine employees’ potential to contribute to improved group performance (Grant et al., 2011).

Discussion

The limitation of these studies was that they were all focused on very small groups, and the findings of the individually reviewed industries may not be reflective of all business or working environments. Grant et al. (2011) was one of the more cited articles in this area of research but is limited by its sample of studying a retail environment and a simulation involving a sample of college students. Similarly, McCormack et al. (2002) focused on a sample of Australian military personnel, and the largely qualitative feedback was likely skewed by the societal norms and mores of Australian culture, which may or may not be indicative of attitudes in other countries, such as the United States, for example.

Conclusion and Further Study

More study is needed to validate which environments are best suited for introverted and laisse-faire style leadership. This review indicates several clear strengths that organizations, businesses, and groups can gain from maximizing the best characteristics from introverts. Introverts are natural leaders for other highly intelligent, proactive, and conscientious individuals. Introverts are not micro-managers and are not naturally inclined to offer constant feedback. However, while it is understood that no person is all introvert or extravert, the two characteristics are on a spectrum that allows individuals to adapt to situations, despite their predominant disposition.

References

Andersen, J. A. (2006). Leadership, personality and effectiveness. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 35(6), 1078–1091. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2005.11.066

Elkin, A. (2015). Donald Trump Has Found the Perfect Insult for Jeb Bush. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-09-03/donald-trump-has-found-the-perfect-insult-for-jeb-bush

Extroversion and introversion. (2015). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1.

Flynn, S. I. (2015). Authoritarian, Democratic, and Laissez-Faire Leadership. Research Starters: Sociology (Online Edition).

Grant, A. M., Gino, F., & Hofmann, D. A. (2011). Reversing the Extraverted Leadership Advantage: The Role of Employee Proactivity. Academy of Management Journal, 54(3), 528–550. http://doi.org/10.5465/AMJ.2011.61968043

Hinkin, T. R., & Schriesheim, C. A. (2008). An examination of “nonleadership”: From laissez-faire leadership to leader reward omission and punishment omission. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(6), 1234–1248. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0012875

Judge, T. A., Piccolo, R. F., & Kosalka, T. (2009). The bright and dark sides of leader traits: A review and theoretical extension of the leader trait paradigm. The Leadership Quarterly, 20(6), 855–875. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2009.09.004

Marquet, D. (2015). Quit the Masquerade and Have Meetings That Matter. Leader to Leader, 2015(78), 43–48. http://doi.org/10.1002/ltl.20204

McCormack, L., & Mellor, D. (2002). The role of personality in leadership: An application of the Five-Factor Model in the Australian military. Military Psychology, 14(3), 179–197. http://doi.org/10.1207/S15327876MP1403_1

Remund, D. L. (2015). Introverts in an Extroverted Profession. Public Relations Tactics, 22(3), 9–9.

Stephens-Craig, D., Kuofie, M., & Dool, R. (2015). Perception of Introverted Leaders by Mid to High -Level Leaders. Journal of Marketing & Management, 6(1), 62–75.

TED. (2012). Susan Cain: The power of introverts. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU2j0TM4

How Political Leaders Utilize Traditional and Social Media to Market Themselves as Trustworthy and Credible

2016-01-10T18:28:00.001-05:00

By: Brandon Long

Political leaders have the challenge of cutting through the clutter of public discourse to communicate their specific messages and portraying an image that is worthy of their constituencies. More often, political leaders seeking public office are turning to social media to connect with and gain supporters. This connection is essential to how they are marketing themselves, often as credible and trustworthy citizens poised to lead and solve the problems of the day. At the same time, those messages also allow professional political communicators the opportunity to craft specific, orchestrated messages designed to effect election outcomes and perceptions of candidates for public office. This research aims to explore how political leaders use traditional and social media channels to market themselves as trustworthy and credible.

Political Marketing

The 2008 campaign of Barack Obama used an integrated marketing strategy, which included traditional mass media and social media to win the White House (Moufahim & Lim, 2009). Research by Moufahim & Lim (2009) suggests that political marketing should advance to a nuanced understanding of “consumer consciousness” and that political theatre, which includes radio, TV, and internet communications, are a part of how politicians work to develop a relationship with voters. Serazio (2015) noted that one communications director for a U.S. Representative revealed his challenge is to deliver dumbed-down content for the uninformed electorate so they will connect with his messages.

Heading into the 2016 presidential election, campaigning on social media remains intense, with “Twitter wars” between campaigns and political marketers looking for ways to be innovative (Monllos, n.d.). In 2012, the Romney campaign’s social media effort was considered to be not-as-aggressive, compared to the Obama campaign’s effort, despite a sizeable staff of more than 110 people dedicated to the digital communication effort (“Team Romney’s Digital Chief,” n.d.). Social media facilitates effective political marketing for those seeking office (Hwang, 2013).

Social Media in Politics

A writer for TheHill.com, a political news website, declared that social media is a “virtual stage” for politicians to debate (Goad, 2015). Goad (2015) wrote that they are also using social media as a means to connect with voters and motivate their supporters, and that Snapchat and Pinterest are becoming more popular than they were in previous election cycles. One of the advisors to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign noted that, “authenticity is a big thing in social media. I think the candidates that are the most successful are the ones that are clearly the most comfortable” (Goad, 2015). With more politicians turning to social media to get their messages out, they are giving unprecedented access to potential supporters through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (Monllos, n.d.).

Even younger demographics are subject to political engagement through Snapchat, which is dominant with 18 to 25 year-olds (Larrauri, 2015). Larrauri (2015) wrote that social media creates an opportunity for authentic two-way conversations and that it allows for authenticity and transparency. For example, candidates are able to post family photos and images of people who inspire them, making them more relatable (Brousell, 2015). Campaigns need to be original and authentic when they use social media to “break through the noise” (Brousell, 2015).

Creating Credibility and Trust

Social media has changed political communication in the United States (Metzgar & Maruggi, 2009). As the top presidential contenders’ campaigns demonstrated in 2008, social media can be an inexpensive and relevant tool when used appropriately. Not using social media can have negative consequences (Metzgar & Maruggi, 2009). Voters make judgements about candidates partially related to how they interact with a candidate’s online social network (Powell, Richmond, & Williams, 2011).

Overall, whether or not the public believes and likes political candidates is directly related to whether or not the public also trusts them and considers them to be credible (Teven, 2008). Credibility can be defined as how believable we perceive a source to be (Powell, Richmond, & Williams, 2011). Politicians can use social media to create the perception of credibility for themselves (Hwang, 2013). Hwang (2013) found that politicians who used Twitter had to be open-minded when engaging their followers. Respondents viewed this behavior as sincere and reliable. Talking about common problems has also been shown to build trust (Rothstein, 2000). Hwang’s (2013) findings further indicated that politicians who used social media added credibility to their brands through their active use and maintaining continuous relationships through social media. Serazio (2015) found that the power of authenticity is that it can build trust “by not appearing to tell us what to do”.

Prete (2007) examined the use and effectiveness of text messaging, or SMS (Short Message Service), for political communication. SMS messages were considered credible, but only had a moderate impact on actual voting (Prete, 2007).

When it comes to political television ads, politicians can improve their perception of trustworthiness by avoiding the perception of being self-serving (Combs & Keller, 2010). For example, Combs & Keller (2010) determined that in the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama and John McCain improved their perception of trustworthiness by acting contrary to their own self-interest. Similarly, they also concluded that instead of attacking a political adversary, legitimate praise might motivate potential voters to soften their perceptions of the candidates. When voters mistrust candidates, cynicism may be the root cause (Teven, 2008). Robideaux (2013) added TV ads that only have positive messages about a candidate are not believable to most viewers. Viewers are more likely to trust the negative message about an opponent, but image based ads, that avoid issues, can have a positive impact (Robideaux, 2013).

Ultimately, however, trustworthiness of the source is not reflective of respondents' likelihood to purchase the product, which in this case the product is the message of the politician and is determined by the how well the audience believes a person is honestly communicating information without prejudice (Ohanian, 1991).

Conclusion

Political leaders are using social media more than ever before to reach potential voters and to energize them to vote and volunteer for their campaigns. Compared to traditional media approaches, with social media they are able to control the message. They are able to be authentic, but often, when the stakes are the highest, as with a presidential election, even social media messages are carefully crafted and so-called authenticity is malleable. But, when political leaders take advantage of the opportunity social media affords, they can create real trusting relationships with constituents and true credibility is built. Whether that results in votes or other action would require further study to answer, but it’s clear that social media has an influence on perceptions of trustworthiness.

References

Brousell, L. (2015, August 27). Why social media could swing the 2016 presidential election. Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://www.cio.com/article/2976083/social-networking/why-social-media-could-swing-the-2016-presidential-election.html

Combs, D. J. Y., & Keller, P. S. (2010). Politicians and Trustworthiness: Acting Contrary to Self-Interest Enhances Trustworthiness. Basic & Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 328–339. http://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2010.519246

Goad, B. (2015, August 17). Welcome to the social media election [Text]. Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://thehill.com/policy/technology/251185-welcome-to-the-social-media-election

Hwang, S. (2013). The Effect of Twitter Use on Politicians’ Credibility and Attitudes toward Politicians. Journal of Public Relations Research, 25(3), 246–258. http://doi.org/10.1080/1062726X.2013.788445

Larrauri, N. (2015, September 9). Top 3 Social Media Takeaways for Brands from the Presidential Election. Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://adweek.it/1Q1aCXF

Metzgar, E., & Maruggi, A. (2009). Social Media and the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. Journal of New Communications Research, 4(1), 141–165.

Monllos, K. (n.d.). By the Numbers: How Presidential Candidates Stack Up on Social Media. Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/numbers-how-presidential-candidates-stack-social-media-166870

Moufahim, M., & Lim, M. (2009). Towards a critical political marketing agenda? Journal of Marketing Management, 25(7/8), 763–776.

Ohanian, R. (1991). The Impact of Celebrity Spokespersons’ Perceived Image on Consumers’ Intention to Purchase. Journal of Advertising Research, 31(1), 46–54.

Powell, L., Richmond, V. P., & Williams, G. C. (2011). Social Networking and Political Campaigns: Perceptions of Candidates as Interpersonal Constructs. North American Journal of Psychology, 13(2), 331–342.

Prete, M. I. (2007). M-politics: Credibility and effectiveness of mobile political communications. Journal of Targeting, Measurement & Analysis for Marketing, 16(1), 48–56. http://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jt.5750063

Robideaux, D. (2013). Credibility and Television Advertising: Negative and Positive Political Ads. Journal of Marketing Development & Competitiveness, 7(3), 68–78.

Rothstein, B. (2000). Trust, Social Dilemmas and Collective Memories. Journal of Theoretical Politics, 12(4), 477–501. http://doi.org/10.1177/0951692800012004007

Serazio, M. (2015). Branding politics: Emotion, authenticity, and the marketing culture of American political communication. Journal of Consumer Culture, 1469540515586868. http://doi.org/10.1177/1469540515586868

Teven, J. J. (2008). An Examination of Perceived Credibility of the 2008 Presidential Candidates: Relationships with Believability, Likeability, and Deceptiveness.

Thanks for the Reminder

2012-09-04T15:39:00.000-04:00

What does a rainbow mean?

Rainbow over Macon, Georgia. August 31, 2012.

My mama told me this...

Genesis 9:12-15
And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Our Amazing Search for a Wonderful 98¢ Weave

2012-09-01T15:26:00.001-04:00

Today, I accompanied my wife to the 98 Cents Store. You'd probably expect most items in the store to be 98 cents, but no. The store carried a variety items ranging from bunk beds to shower curtains to area rugs to floor mats for your car to wonderful weaves.

Let me be up front about this, I've been to a few weave shops with my wife before, but it's a relatively rare experience for me. As a child growing up, I never went to the weave shop with my mom because she doesn't wear weave, so each trip is truly a learning experience. The 98 Cent Store was sensory overload... thanks to the unique mix of merchandise, the employees, and the shoppers.

Wife surveys the selection at the 98 Cent Store

I'm really not sure where to start.

The mission of our trip was to find a wonderful weave. I prefer my wife's natural hair, but beyond that I'm learning that it's best for me to not say any more. Clearly, the mission was flawed from my perspective the moment we embarked on our quest. Still, an adventure was in the midst!

I love a good sale, so the immediate realization that nearly nothing there was marked for sale at 98¢ was a major let down. How can they even call their store that? I might file a complaint with the FTC.

Though our mission was to search for a wonderful weave, I wanted to look around to see what was actually 98¢ if anything, which took us on a trek throughout the store.

The merchandise selection
Immediately upon entering the store, shoppers will immediately be drawn to the half-dozen half mannequins modeling a skanky line (not swanky as spell check suggest) of leggings, ranging from neon colors to faux denim. For men, you'll find Dickey style pants to pair with fashionable jailhouse striped polo styled shirts also in a variety of neon colors. For children, they've got conservative school uniforms. Someone loves the kids! In the front corner, you'll find flat brimmed baseball caps in several colors with no logos or designs. The low, low price of $2.98 nearly got me to buy one, but the brim just didn't seem like it would ever bend. In one of the back corners, huge area rugs for the low, low price of $149, and right next to those were car floor mats, including the purple leopard print line for $14.98! Of note, the only items we found that were 98¢ were small votive candles. Shoplifting must also be a problem when it comes to bandannas, which were 99¢, because they were tagged with anti-theft devices.

The employees
The men were from Palestine or at least sympathizers of their political movement. I know this because there were two cars outside the store (parked in handicapped parking spaces) with Free Palestine car tag frames. I'm accepting this as a reasonable conclusion, not a certainty. There was also a woman, who helped other women with weave; I'll come back to her. First, the man at the register. As we approached the cash register, he was clearly daydreaming or at least deep in thought as he listened to Islamic prayers. He seemed somewhat bothered that we were ready to check out. That was strange. Even stranger though was that the woman selling weave had locks. O_o There was also a guy who helped at the weave counter, but he didn't know as much, didn't speak clear English, and by the time we got to the register, he was sweeping the parking lot. All in all, they were a strange bunch, but they didn't follow us around the store which was appreciated.

The shoppers
The clientele of the 98 Cent Store made the parking lot of the store appeared to be match how I envision a corner store on Crenshaw in Compton, California. By that I mean, several cars on over-sized rims with loud colors, i.e. money green. Inside, most of the women (not my wife) had so little hair that their weave would have to be glued or clipped in, not sewn. This was somewhat disturbing.

THE WEAVES

Weaves not making eye contact.

Weaves not looking at the customer

My favorite part of our amazing search for the wonderful weave involved the placement of the weave heads on that lined the shelved. They were all either facing the wall or the sky, but didn't make eye contact. Something about that made me feel unwanted and dirty. It was clear that I didn't fit in at the weave shop, but it was quite an adventure. Sort of.

Oh, and yes... my wife did leave with a weave, but it was certainly NOT 98¢.

#FalseAdvertisement

41NBC's Brandon Long Announces Promotion as News Director

2011-01-28T23:14:00.000-05:00

Today marks the end of one chapter for me, and the beginning of a new one. Over the last six and half years you’ve welcomed me into your homes to deliver something I take great pride in, our newscast.

After today, I will no longer make that delivery, but I will continue to make sure 41NBC remains your best option for news in Middle Georgia.

I have been transitioning into a different leadership role here at 41 NBC for the past couple of weeks, in preparation for a promotion, a new job for me, which I will begin on Monday, as the news director. It’s the top job in the newsroom. It’s a great move for me, and I believe it will be a good move for you too.

I’ll continue to maintain my blog here at 41NBC.com and my Facebook page.

It wasn’t an easy decision for me, but I think know a blessing when I see one.

You should know I truly enjoy anchoring this broadcast, but I also love working with reporters to get the story the right, defending them in their pursuit of the truth, and making sure we have the resources and the right people who can get to the point of a story.

So, I want to THANK YOU for allowing me to share the news with you over the last few years. We’ve shared some great stories.

As News Director here at 41NBC, I’ll continue to make sure that doesn’t change.

Letters to God, Answers from Life, The Power of Prayer

2010-04-17T21:12:00.002-04:00

We went to go see a new Christian movie called “Letters to God”. If you've ever been close to someone who has lived with cancer, it will definitely force some heavy reflection, and may leave you fighting tears.

The movie is about a boy battling cancer who writes letters to God. He writes God asking for his mom to laugh, his friend to get a new friend if he dies, and for a kid who picks on him at school to learn about what Jesus would do, among other requests and thoughts. He writes what seems like several letters everyday. Many of those letters are read by his mailman, who is having his own struggles with alcohol. Meeting the boy with cancer and reading those letters give the mailman a greater since of peace, and he begins to know God. The boy with cancer even asks his brother to write a letter to God, which his mother finds and reads. She's able to understand both boys better, and begins to cater to both of their needs.

By the end, it becomes clear that the boy's letters to God inspire people beyond his family. The boy who picked on him at school and the mailman help the neighborhood get the message by spreading some of the boy's letters around.

All in all, it was a great movie that might give you a new way to pray, connect with God, and understand the true power of your prayers.

Who's Running for Governor in Georgia?

2010-03-17T22:16:00.000-04:00

Get informed before the July primary! Here are links to the campaign websites

Republicans
Jeff Chapman
Nathan Deal
Karen Handel
Eric Johnson
Ray McBerry
John Oxendine
Austin Scott

Democrats
Thurbert Baker
Roy Barnes
Carl Camon
DuBose Porter
David Poythress

Libertarian
John Monds

Georgia Candidate for Governor Will Work for Free Until...

2010-02-02T23:20:00.001-05:00

From a news release:

General David Poythress, Democratic candidate for Governor, had the memorable moment in tonight’s first televised candidate debate.

General Poythress displayed the pledge he had signed, calling it a “solemn promise” to the people of Georgia that he “will not accept a paycheck as Governor until we get Georgia's unemployment rate under 7%."

There were audible gasps in the room from his bold statement which he reiterated in his closing.

General Poythress stated his commitment to moving our economy forward again by saying, “I'm willing to the walk the walk with folks, and I will share in the sacrifice until we get people back to work, period."

Former Governor Barnes was given the chance to apologize to the teachers of Georgia for his misguided policies which led to his defeat in 2002. He didn’t apologize and affirmed his commitment to “No Child Left Behind.”

In addition to touting his experience as Secretary of State, Labor Commissioner and Commanding General of the Georgia National Guard, General Poythress emphasized his commitment to valuing our state’s educators by protecting their fair employment rights, showing respect for the sacrifices our teachers make while shaping the future of our state.

“Tonight was a clear contrast between the stale policies of the past and a Governor who will move the state forward,” says General Poythress.

Why isn't the shooting incident at Fort Hood called terrorism?

2009-11-09T04:32:00.000-05:00

I can admit, I'm not a terrorism expert, but on the surface I feel like the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas should have been called acts of terrorism. I am really surprised that word really hasn't been coming up.

Here's why I expected that word to be used. If the shooting had been at a base abroad, the terrorism label would have been attached. If a similar shooting, with that number of casualties had occurred at a government office building, the terrorism label would have been attached.

There are a lot of unanswered questions about what motivated this shooter to attack, including how he reconciled his religion and service to his country. Some have even said that Major Hasan, the alleged shooter, may be one of many who take issue with our country's policies, serve in the military, and wish to harm Americans. I pray that is not the case.

The following is from a conservative writer. It makes for an interesting read. Some of the allegations have been debunked, but so little information out there about the shooter, its worth reading.

Fort Hood triggerman aided team on Homeland Security task force

By Jerome R. Corsi
2009 WorldNetDaily

NEW YORK - Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged shooter in yesterday's massacre at Fort Hood, played a homeland security advisory role in President Barack Obama's transition into the White House, according to a key university policy institute document.

The Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University published a document May 19, entitled "Thinking Anew Security Priorities for the Next Administration: Proceedings Report of the HSPI Presidential Transition Task Force, April 2008 January 2009," in which Hasan of the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine is listed on page 29 of the document as a Task Force Event Participant.

Hasan received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University School in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.

Noting that the Obama administration transition was proceeding, the GWU Homeland Security Policy Institute report described on the first page the role of the Presidential Transition Task Force as including "representatives from past Administrations, State government, Fortune 500 companies, academia, research institutions and non-governmental organizations with global reach."

While the GWU task force participants included several members of government, including representatives of the Department of Justice and the U.S Department of Homeland Security, there is no indication in the document that the group played any formal role in the official Obama transition, other than to serve in a university-based advisory capacity.

According to the "About Us" section of the GWU Homeland Security Policy Institute, the group is a "nonpartisan 'think and do' tank whose mission is to build bridges between theory and practice to advance homeland security through an interdisciplinary approach."

The Homeland Security Policy Institute is led by Frank J Cilluffo, who formerly served in the White House as special assistant to President Bush for homeland security, and by Daniel Kaniewski, who formerly served in the White House as special assistant to President Bush for homeland security and senior director for response policy.

"Muslims should stand up and fight the aggressor," Hasan said about America before he and possibly other Muslim soldiers at Fort Hood shot 43 fellow soldiers, killing 12, who were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"He said Muslims had a right to attack" the U.S., said Col. Terry Lee, who worked with Hasan at the Texas post, where the devout Sunni Muslim refused deployment. "He said Muslims shouldn't be fighting Muslims," he added. "He was very clear on that."

According to an explosive new book, "Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America," Hasan is just the tip of a jihadist Fifth Column operating within the ranks of the U.S. military which is too blinded by political correctness to see the threat.

Quoting from a classified military briefing, "Muslim Mafia" reveals that this Fifth Column has penetrated "every branch of the U.S. military." The Islamist enemy has even infiltrated the al-Qaida detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

About the Guest:

Dr. Jerome Corsi received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in political science in 1972. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality and the co-author of Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry, which was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. He is a regular contributor to WorldNetDaily.com.

Majority of Georgia Congressmen Opposed Healthcare Reform

2009-11-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

Alright, here's the breakdown on how Georgia's members in the U.S. House voted for the healthcare reform bill.

Notice that 2 Georgia democrats (Mashall & Barrow) voted against the bill, making the total of Georgia representatives against the plan 9.

Rep. Jack Kingston (R), 1st District - NO
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D), 2nd District - YES
Rep. Lynn A. Westmoreland (R), 3rd District - NO
Rep. Hank Johnson (D), 4th District - YES

Rep. John Lewis (D), 5th District - YES
Rep. Tom Price (R), 6th District - NO
Rep. John Linder (R), 7th District - NO
Rep. Jim Marshall (D), 8th District - NO
Rep. Nathan Deal (R), 9th District - NO
Rep. Paul C. Broun (R), 10th District - NO

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R), 11th District - NO
Rep. John Barrow (D), 12th District - NO

Rep. David Scott (D), 13th District -YES

Healthcare Reform Passes

2009-11-07T23:23:00.001-05:00

U.S. House has passed healthcare reform bill 220-215.

If you are really bored or have a lot of spare time you can read it here:

111TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION
H. R. 3962
To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Enjoy all 1,190 pages!

Healthcare Reform Countdown

2009-11-07T22:34:00.000-05:00

I've asked the question before: is it the government's job to provide healthcare for those who can't afford it or aren't able to access it? I still haven't decided, but I think I understand the concerns of the people on both sides of the issue a little better after watching CSPAN and listening to hour after hour of debate in the U.S. House.

Colorful speakers took anywhere from 15 seconds to 5 minutes to add their perspective to the bill being considered. Many of the loudest really didn't add much to the discussion. The calmest speakers seemed to know more. Funny how that works out.

The premise on one side is everyone should have health insurance. They believe our country is wealthy... or at least a lot of people in this country are wealthy enough to provide healthcare for those who can't afford it. At the core of their argument, most of the Democratic speakers maintained, its wrong for sick people to be second guessed by businessmen before receiving medical treatment. They painted a grim picture of the current system, made of bad guys and evil doers, who would rather see people die than loose money.

The other side pretty much disregards all of those points, and focuses on different issues altogether. For example, can the country afford this healthcare reform and what gives the Congress the authority to mandate health insurance for every American.

I think a lot of regular folks, like my grandparents, don't like to see other regular folks struggle. And that's the bottom line. They live through the depression and a World War, the second one, and saw how the country pulled together to not only fix this country, but also to improve living conditions for people all over the world. At the same time, they don't like government in their personal affairs. They would probably tell the people having this healthcare reform debate to help people, but don't mettle unnecessarily.

Race for Warner Robins Mayor Goes On

2009-11-04T22:48:00.001-05:00

So, election day has come and gone, and the race for Warner Robins mayor goes on. It's the playoffs, if you prefer sports. It's a runoff, if politics is your sport of choice. Voters decided Clifford Holmes didn't make the cut. Chuck Chalk and Chuck Shaheen are the last two standing. Vote December 1^st if you care!

For the record, here's a breakdown of the results: Chuck Chalk- 1941; Clifford Holmes- 1724; Chuck Shaheen- 2269. On election day, fewer than 6,000 people voted, and you can bet even fewer will vote in the runoff. That's about how many voted in our student government elections when I was in college.

Here are the remaining candidates; websites:

Fed Census Worker Lynched in Kentucky, Really?

2009-09-28T20:47:00.000-04:00

Police found 51-year old William Sparkman dead, hanging from a tree in a cemetery with a rope around his neck September 12th, and this is only NOW making national headlines.

25 Candidates for Memphis Mayor; Watch One Fist Bump the Dalai Lama

2009-09-25T04:35:00.010-04:00

Early voting starts today in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee-- and there's never a dull moment in Memphis politics. Going as far back to the heyday of the big political machines, Memphis political races draw opinions and passions from high and low. Boss Crump, as he was known, in the early 19th century showed Memphians how to win an election. Control, bribe, and frighten people into supporting the inevitable. OK, so maybe that's extreme, but it looks like most of the candidates for mayor are going all in to take over the top job in the Bluff City.

One of them, Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery ~~staged a publicity stunt~~ went as far as to do a fist bump with the Dalai Lama.After many people questioned the appropriateness of that a gesture with a religious figure of such stature, he sent a letter to CNN defending his action. He blamed the swine flu (H1N1) for his decision. He explained in his commentary that he basically wanted to lead by example and NOT shake hands. Seriously. I almost thought he was just doing something cool, and unscripted... but the swine flu excuse just made him seem weak IMHO.

You can watch it here:

Here are the 25 Candidates. You can only choose one!
LEO AWGOWHAT
RANDY L. CAGLE
CHARLES CARPENTER
CAROL CHUMNEY
DEWEY CLARK
JAMES “MALCOLM” CLINGAN
A WILLIS MENELIK FOMBI
WANDA HALBERT
JOHNNY HATCHER, JR.
ROBERT (PRINCE MONGO) HODGES
CONSTANCE RENEE HOUSTON
DE WAYNE JONES
E. C. JONES
JERRY LAWLER
MYRON LOWERY
ERNEST ANTHONY LUNATI
DETRIC W. STIGALL
SILKY SULLIVAN
DAVID W. VINCIARELLI
VUONG VAUGHN VO
MARY TAYLOR-SHELBY WRIGHT
SHARON A. WEBB
KENNETH TWIGG WHALUM, JR.
VOTE FOR ONE (1)
A C WHARTON, JR.
JOHN WILLINGHAM

Kids Singing about Obama IS a little weird, don't you think?

2009-09-25T00:01:00.002-04:00

This video is the new internet sensation going around. It shows some kids in a New Jersey elementary school singing an odd song highlighting some of President Obama's philosophies. Here are some of the lyrics:

He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Just a little wierd. And, my mom probably would've second guessed their decision if I were singing about stuff like "equal work and equal pay". She'd say-- "that's grown folks business." I doubt those kids even know what they're talking about.

We used to sing about being drug free. Not ReaganBushClinton when I was in school. The school district apparently issued a statement saying the students were singing to honor the contributions of African-Americans. I'm skeptical. And I'm pretty sure that would not go over very well for most public schools in Georgia or Tennessee.

Decide for yourself:

Tim Russert's Dad Died Today

2009-09-24T22:28:00.001-04:00

Several media websites are reporting the man who gave the world Tim Russert died today. 'Big Russ' apparently died of natural causes at the age of 85. His full name was Timothy Joseph Russert Sr. He was clearly a good father and friend to his family and those who knew him. Ultimately one of his greatest contributions to the world was Tim Russert, who certainly elevated the political discussion for more than a decade from his seat in Washington.

His son, former "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert died June 13, 2008 of a heart attack.

Now, Luke Russert, Tim's son, suffers another death and difficult loss. The family would rather donations go to the Alzheimer's Association than receive flowers.

Read the statement from the family.

Race for Warner Robins Mayor Could Get Interesting

2009-09-23T04:06:00.002-04:00

This year the mayor race in Warner Robins could be interesting. You've got four people who believe they have a solid vision for the city, including an incumbent mayor and a former interim mayor & city council member. From what I can tell, all four men have very strong personalities and distinct experiences that would guide how they would lead the city. Chuck Chalk served in the Air Force and was based at Robins Air Force Base. Clifford Holmes has served on the city council and has made a career as an educator. Chuck Shaheen is a successful local businessman. And Mayor Donald Walker takes credit for making sure Warner Robins grows steadily and methodically.

Advanced voting begins October 26th, and election day is November 3rd.

In all, if you'd like to check out the websites for each of the candidates, here are the links.

Glenn Beck: McCain would've been worse than Obama as President

2009-09-22T07:18:00.003-04:00

In an interview with Katie Couric for cbsnews.com, Glenn Beck, the poster boy for a grassroots renegade movement against the powers that be (usually Democrats), said John McCain was a worse choice for president than Barack Obama, and that he may have even considered voting for Hillary Clinton, and not McCain, had she been the democratic nominee.

The rest of the interview will be on the web later today, and I expect a lot of people will check it out, if only to hear his reasons why. Beck is getting a lot of attention because he's striking a nerve with a lot of people in his commentaries. People tend to gravitate toward people with whom they agree and find some common ground.

Now, I'm not sure Beck really believes all that he says-- but, those who follow him are making him seem like a wise business choice, if nothing else. As a businessman, he's a Rush Limbaugh for TV. The big winner in this is Katie Couric, who will likely get a lot of new people to sample her style online and maybe even her broadcast.

Here's part of the clip that's been release:

It will be on cbsnews.com at 7pm ET.

Save More, Spend Less with ClarkHoward.com

2009-09-21T08:24:00.001-04:00

Consumer advocate Clark Howard is by far one of my favorite radio talk show hosts. What I like most is he truly aims to empower consumers to challenge the status quo. He also regularly shares information about scams. His website has a plethora of information on how to REALLY save money. Some of his advice is extreme (like ordering eyeglasses from China for $5, instead of using Lenscrafters or some other eyeglass store), but it's all useful. HE goal is to make sure people know that their dollar holds power, so they should hold their dollar. If you'd like to check out his website, it's clarkhoward.com.

He has a TV show that airs on CNN Headline News on weekends. Check your local listing for times.

Gov. Sonny Perdue Joins Right Against ACORN

2009-09-18T06:37:00.000-04:00

With all of the talk about ACORN misusing money in a myriad of ways, the state of Georgia has decided to cancel its contracts with the organization.

Here's the news release from the governor's office:

Statement of Governor Perdue Regarding the Department of Human Services Contract with ACORN

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding the Department of Human Services contract with ACORN which expires this month:

“I want to thank Sen. Rogers and Reps. Graves, Keown, and Setzler for bringing the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) contract to my attention. In July, I directed my office to review all consulting contracts the state has with outside vendors to look for budget savings; that review did not identify the ACORN contract, because it does not involve state funds. The State of Georgia will not renew the contract, which expires in 13 days. Further, I have issued an Executive Order that prevents executive branch agencies from doing business with ACORN in the future and calls for a review of any existing contracts with ACORN.”

The text of Governor Perdue’s Executive Order is below:

Whereas:   O.C.G.A. § 50-5-50 states that it is the public policy of the State of Georgia that contracts and other procurement activities be conducted with integrity and in a manner that will increase public confidence; and

Whereas:   Although it is always important that the State does business with organizations with integrity, in this current budget environment it is especially vital to monitor the use of our scarce resources; and

Whereas:   To date, 70 employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) have been convicted of crimes committed in the course of their work for the organization; and

Whereas:  There are numerous investigations, indictments, and prosecutions currently pending against ACORN and its staff throughout the nation; and

Whereas:   As a result of recent actions by ACORN, the U.S. Census Bureau ended its relationship with ACORN on September 11 and the U.S. Senate voted 83-7 to cut off federal funding from ACORN on September 14; and

Whereas:   Recent acts of ACORN employees and agents resulted in ACORN subjecting itself to an internal review of its acts and practices;

Whereas:       ACORN’s current acts and historical conduct make clear that financial involvement with organizations such as ACORN is contrary to the public policy of the State of Georgia and the best interests of its citizens.

Now, therefore, by the power vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby

Ordered:    That all state departments, agencies, boards, bureaus and commissions including without limitation the Board of Regents and the University System of Georgia as defined in O.C.G.A. § 50-5-77 and within the executive branch (hereinafter “Agencies” or “Agency”), are hereby prohibited from entering into any future contracts with ACORN or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

                      It is further

Ordered:    That all Agencies are hereby directed to cease all existing funding for ACORN or its subsidiaries or affiliates unless such funding is legally obligated. If an Agency determines that such funding is legally obligated, that Agency is directed to inform the Executive Counsel to the Governor of its determination.

                        It is further

Ordered:    That all Agencies are hereby directed to provide to the Executive Counsel to the Governor a copy of all existing contracts or other agreements between the Agency and ACORN or its subsidiaries or affiliates no later than September 23, 2009.

                        It is further

Ordered:    That no later than September 23, 2009, all Agencies are hereby directed to provide to the Executive Counsel to the Governor a copy of all existing contracts or other agreements between local governments and ACORN, its subsidiaries or affiliates that involve state funds.

                        This 17^th day of September, 2009.


                                                                                                            Governor Perdue

Shots Fired: CNN's Bad Reporting

2009-09-14T05:07:00.002-04:00

September 11th, 2009 should serve as an example of what NOT to do for students of journalism who may find themselves in a decision making position in a newsroom. Professors remind your students to verify information heard over police scanners BEFORE reporting.

On the 8th anniversary of 9/11/01, CNN reported that the U.S. Coast Guard had fired 10 shots at another vessell in the Potomac River. Just moments prior, President Barack Obama crossed a bridge over the river to go to a rememberance ceremony. Such false information, shut down air traffic at a nearby airport and prompted several first responders to go to the area to assist the Coast Guard. Later, the Coast Guard indicated the radio chatter was part of training exercise.

Once CNN realized the error, there was no culpability admitted. The questioning immediately turned to: Why would the Coast Guard hold a training exercise on 9/11.

BIG MISTAKE: There should have been a responsible adult in the room to at least scrutinize what was heard on the police scanner prior to reporting that information. By the organization's own admission, what CNN reported was not verified visually by any of CNN's reporters or producers or confirmed by any law enforcement official. On a day of such importance and reverence, you'd think they would exercise a bit more caution and responsibility in their reporting.

Why would a "Prince" and a "King" run for mayor?

2009-09-11T06:05:00.001-04:00

Macon, Georgia has very interesting politics, but the cycles seem to repeat themselves. Its the same names or the same faces just moved around.

But, boy oh boy, politics in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee just read like a soap opera.

When the Dr. W. W. Herenton announced he would quit his job as mayor to focus on a congressional campaign, it didn't take long for nearly a dozen candidates to step forward and seek the job. While there are experienced political leaders in the race, they certainly lack the color and charisma of two of my favorite candidates, Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

The King was best known in Memphis as a wrestler, who walked around with a crown. He made his hometown proud when he joined the national wrestling scene with Vince McMahon and WWF/WWE as a commentator on Monday night Raw for several years in the 90s.

CLICK HERE to visit Lawler's campaign site.

I actually had the opportunity to meet Prince Mongo when I was a news intern. We went to his home near Park Avenue after neighbors complained about his yard decorations, which included mannequin heads on top of broomsticks positioned around his front yard in a picket fence style. He used his Toyota Sequoia as a dog house. The neighbors who lived closest to him, ironically, had no problem with the stuff in his yard. In fact, many of them joined him for dinner once a week. He'd cook them a steak dinner in the summers and regularly delivered groceries to those with whom he wanted to share. All of the stuff he said about being from another planet seemed small when you really got to know the guy.

To learn more about Prince Mongo's campaign, CLICK HERE.

Both men use a common sense approach to politics, which should never be undervalued... even if they royally odd!

A Great Unscripted Moment: "You Lie!"

2009-09-10T22:56:00.000-04:00

When South Carolina U.S. Representative Joe Wilson stood up and yelled "You Lie" to President Obama in a joint session of Congress, the part of me that appreciates political theater applauded. I supported, not necessarily the message, but the method. It's just so rare that our elected officials let their guard down long enough to let us know how they really feel. It was the one moment during the president's speech where he was caught off guard.

The book by Joe Klein, "Politics Lost", points out a growing need for more unscripted moments in American Politics. It's when strategy and message control play second fiddle to real, brutal honesty. It's that type of political discourse that's needed more... and that needs to be on display more.

Sadly, the congressman apologized for the outburst. But, he gets points from me for being candid in simple terms concerning a complicated issue. For those people who say Rep. Wilson's comments were disrespectful, inappropriate, or made in the wrong setting, I don't totally understand what they mean. I know the members of Congress have rules for debate, so maybe Wilson was out of order. But, it was an opinion that should not be bottled up.

If more of our leaders really shared how they felt about an issue, perhaps our country's policies would better reflect the wants, needs, and desires of the American people.

You can watch the "You Lie" moment here at 21:48...