Would love to have heard the comments from Rahm on this one - interesting that there was no response

'What qualifies you to be press secretary for the mayor of the
third-largest city?'

by Jim Romenesko
Published May 19, 2011 11:50 am
Updated May 19, 2011 12:06 pm

Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
That's what 55-year-old Chuck Goudie — "one of Chicago's toughest
investigative reporters" — asks 25-year-old Tarrah Cooper, who is
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's press secretary. The 2008 Missouri
Journalism School graduate and former MTV intern "is beginning the job
of a lifetime, even though she doesn't have much life time behind her,"
writes Goudie. (Cooper worked in the Department of Homeland Security
public affairs office before joining Emanuel's team.) In his column for
a suburban Chicago newspaper, Goudie lists the questions he sent Cooper
and and never got answered, including:

• Does your youthfulness and lack of experience symbolize what seems to
be administration focused on hiring managers under 35?

• Is there a set of written guidelines or protocols that you are working
from in dealing with reporters and news organizations?

• How much will you be paid?

• What are your career aspirations?

Goudie also says that "it is interesting that the mayor's new press
secretary felt no inhibition about displaying hundreds of personal
photos on her public Facebook page, showing her partying with friends,
in beach attire and at a slot machine."

Reaction in the comments section? Here's what "old lady 2205″ writes:

Chuck, you sly old fox. What better way to start with the new mayoral
administration than to go after the youngest and possibly most
vulnerable staff member. This entire investigation must have taken you
45 minutes to an hour, including writing the article.
I really expect better of you.

Tags: Public relations

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/133067/what-qualifies-you-to-be-press-secretary-for-the-mayor-of-the-third-largest-city/

My guess on the selection is that Rahm was looking for someone who would
do exactly what he said the way he said it with no back talk. I can't
see him giving up any access to the press to anyone else at all. He
wants to be his own press secretary and by naming someone like this he
gets his wish.

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