CPR Promotional Check-Up - May 2, 2011

5/1/12

That's going to become one of those days that is known by those numbers.

This might be the 2nd time in a calendar year that I've actually err'd on the side of caution.

A lot lot lot of people have died trying to get Bin Laden. Celebratory stuff might be inappropriate. COVER the people who were right now outside the White House cheering. Unless you're KTLK or a similar station, you report what's going on and don't make opinions. COVER the celebration. Don't take an opinion. Just report.

I just 60 minutes looking at coverage. The one COMMON THREAD? God bless the troops.

That's the hook.

I was on a plane yesterday that had a bunch of young men and women in uniform going to Dallas to deploy. The flight attendant acknowledged them and everyone clapped.

Focus on the LOCAL troops. That's your angle. You can never ever go wrong with that. Do hours of music dedicated to local kids, introduced by their friends and family. Do something on the website as a tribute to 9/11 victims. But do NOT miss this.

Obviously, if you're in military town like Norfolk, Grand Forks, Las Vegas , Albuquerque, San Diego or Tampa, this is the chance to glom onto the Pro-Troop Vibe. I live in Minnesota and know three people who are deployed. It's everywhere.

I'd do a roll call on the website. A scroll of locals who have been in the fight.

I'd BLOW UP THE HOME PAGE and have candles with nothing but the names of each local who has lost their life since 2001. Candle and name. It's your visual.

Today is going to be a day of jubilation. This is the story. If you miss it (and a feed story on the website rates about a 2), you're going to look like an idiot.

Open the phones and let people talk about how they found out about 9/11. I just posted on FB. Prediction? 20 posts in ten minutes.

Use social media as a community to ENGAGE people. Post stuff that people can respond to.

Or ignore it and focus on Perez stories of Kim's new bikini and the thing that Lauren did with the guy at the place.