If you're a public affairs or government relations specialist, we don't have to tell you that getting Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) on the phone could present the same challenge as getting The Washington Post to run a correction.
But if you build a rapport with Congressional press secretaries (the folks, probably next to God, who best know these elected officials' consciences and aspirations), your pitches and correspondence might sidestep the paper shredder.
"We get hundreds of pieces of mail a day, but it's largely from the public," says Ann Adler, press secretary for Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV). "Most of the savvy PR people send information directly to those working on, or familiar with, a specific piece of legislation."
But Adler also points out that an item that piques a staffer's interest but of which they have little knowledge will often be forwarded to the Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress which digs up background information on behalf of Congress.
On page 2, PR NEWS provides you with the names of press secretaries for the highest ranking members of the 106th Congress as well as contact numbers. You can access the complete list on our Web site, prandmarketing.com. The information was provided by Capitol Hill Software, Lanham, Md.
In addition, we spoke with several press secretaries to find out what they want from PR specialists. No surprise, they tend to be wary of a pitch letter that comes from a PR firm being paid to represent a client. However, backing from an association or respected think-tank can add that extra dose of trustworthiness.
For example, Director of Communication Richard L. Carter for Rep. Donald A. Manzullo's (R-Ill.) recalls how The Heritage Foundation gave the "Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997" a local twist that made it relevant for Manzullo's district, which includes Northern Illinois.
The legislation, which provides child tax credits, went into effect this year. Analysis from the foundation showed that more than 113,000 children live in Manzullo's district, eking out a $48.6 million tax break should the law pass. That statistic put the spin on the issue Manzullo needed to make it trigger constituency interest.
"We need it to mean something to real people," says Jim Manley, who has worked for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) for more than five years. Non-profits, associations, commissioned studies and big-picture analysis are what help these specialists move something from the "in" box to the "look into it" box.
Press Secretaries for Members of 106th Congress
Senate
Lee Youngblood, Press Secretary, (202) 224-6253, (202) 224-2262, Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS-S2)
K. Gayle Osterberg, Press Secretary, (202) 224-5754, (202) 224-6008, Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK-S1)
Nancy Segerdahl, Communications Director, (202) 224-5274, (202) 224-8022, Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL-S2)
Ranit Schmelzer, Press Secretary, (202) 224-2321, Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD-S1)
Jennifer Backus, Press Secretary, (202) 224-3542, (202) 224-7327, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV-S1)
House
Pete Jeffries, Communications Director, (202) 225-2976, (202) 225-0697, Rep. Dennis J. Hastert (R-IL-14)
Michele Davis, Press Secretary, (202) 225-4000, (202) 225-7614, Rep. Richard K. Armey (R-TX-26)
Mike Scanlon, Communications Director, (202) 225-5951, (202) 225-5241, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX-22)
Tobi Edwards, Press Secretary, (202) 225-6165, (202) 225-3512, Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK-04)
John Hishta, Admin Asst.; Press Secretary, (202) 225-1492, (202) 225-3071, Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-VA-11)
Kristin Accipiter, Press Secretary, (202) 225-2501, (202) 225-9318, Rep. Tillie K. Fowler (R-FL-04)
Paul Wilkinson, Press Secretary, (202) 225-5611, (202) 225-9177, Rep. Christopher Cox (R-CA-47)
Laura Knickles, Press Secretary, (202) 225-2671, (202) 225-7452, Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-MO-03)
Gretchen Kline, Press Secretary, (202) 225-2106, (202) 226-1169, Rep. David E. Bonior (D-MI-10)
Askia Suruma, Press Secretary, (202) 225-3605, (202) 225-4951, Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX-24)
Julie Piscitelli, Communications Director, (202) 225-7919, (202) 226-0792, Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ-13)
G. James Papa, Press Secretary, (202) 225-3661, (202) 225-4890, Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT-03)
Larry H. Berman, Press Secretary, (401) 729-5600, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI-01)