How much value is social media or social networking sites in your job and/or for your boss?
- The younger crowd uses those. My boss wouldn't know where to start. Senator Roberts would be the first to admit...he just got a new IPhone.
- We will sometimes repost or retweet an item if it reflects well on KS/KS organizations. Using social media as an additional outlet along with P.Rs. is a good idea to pick up a feed initially.
- There’s two different aspects here, I think. We use it a lot for distributing information, probably more than collecting information. We post press releases and other things that come out of our office on Twitter and Facebook. Personally, I use it as far as following CNN and things like that. It’s really a fast way to get news bites and stuff that’s going on. But as far as going there to look for specific reports on things, I would say no.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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What value are comments from constituents to you when determining what is newsworthy? Do you filter and track comments from constituents?
- We definitely filter. Usually for us, if people are just writing in to express a comment on something that the Senator has already stated an opinion on, then… We respond to all constituent comments. A lot of times, he just wants a summary of what people are writing in about. We get thousands…a day, even, between email and letters and faxes. It would be just impossible for him to see everything.
- We don't really have constituents any more (sad) but we ALWAYS filter.
- We respond to all constituent comments. On the big issues, yes (we track comments). Health Care we had 10,000+ against and a few hundred pro reform. Climate change is the same way. And based off where the caller or comment card comes from we often know what their position will be prior to even reading. We get very specific requests or comments and we respond back.
- We respond to everything but then I do compile a list of frequent comments for [Representative's Name Omitted] on a weekly basis, or a tally depending on the amount.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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What is the best way to provide time-sensitive information?
- Staff. We are the filter most of the time. Snail mail takes 6 plus weeks to show up in the Senator's office.
- I would agree [that mail is not a good option]. It’s good to have something in writing to go back on, but we just get so much email, so much volume, that if we don’t get a phone call from someone saying we’re going to send you something, it’s easy to miss.
- Phone conversation with participating groups. Phone and email records are great. Yes I agree with Clint on the phone call first. In my position, I don't deal as much with hot topics approaching the floor but instead see how the issues are carried out at the state. When new issues are implemented, I seek out answers as to what is occuring. I don't typically use social media as a source of incoming news. For me that is used in reposting the information and spreading it to others but I do not use it as a source. Websites are very valuable if they are up to date with information or press releases. Often times, websites are not as current as a major news source.
- For the White House and former Presidents, mail is never a good option, email/fax are best when followed up with a phone call. For us, it all depends on who sends it, unfortunately. So if you can have a connection with an office, the more likely the request will be pushed forward. We use websites to vet everything, so the more legitimate the information (with sources) the better. Also, the easier to use, the better.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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K-State Research and Extension sends an annual Report to the Kansas Legislature, which is an overview and backgrounder on areas we think we need to highlight. Is there a good time of year to send these to you?
- Congressional recess. August.
- Congressional recess is the best.
- [Response from President Aide] We are definitely full speed ahead in spring and fall, which is actually the best time to get in a request here. Summer and holidays, things shut down a little more. I'm always happy to answer any specific questions. We've found that if you call first and ask what we need, it's in better form to send to us.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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As a staffer, do you prefer to receive information from a source, or do you prefer to go find it when you need it.
- It goes both ways, I think. Sometimes we seek things out, but a lot of times we get things sent our way, too.
- Both but more specific information is sought after. We often have to follow up with the author or the source. In our office we have the daily press clippings that show what is happening in all corners of the state and nationally. Direct email if it is very specific.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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Have you seen the KSRE Web site recently? If so, what do you think about this as a source of information?
- An upgrade in the search function would help.
- I have always thought it is challenging to navigate.
- (One other staffer said they had not looked at our site recently.)
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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Is it better to provide a news brief with a link to more information, a full press release, a bulleted list, or some other format when providing information to you?
- I really prefer emails with bullet points and necessary links if there is further information available. The impacts something might have on Kansans, good bad or indifferent is a lot of what it boils down to for our office. And then of course $$.
- Politicians are often scared of getting spoofed. Or have a journalist do a hatchet job and not explain the full story. Depends on what the story is. If Congress is rewriting federal crop insurance that gets into the weeds pretty deep, bullet points are good. But if it is a outbreak of FMD then we need to know the story...how, where, what to do next.
- I agree with [initials omitted]…don't leave any of the very important details out because often what you send will go directly to the boss. But if we need more information, yes definitely always include a [point of contact].
- It probably depends on the preference of your boss, mine likes bullet points. If I get bullet points, that’s easier for me to pass on to him, if that’s what it is. If there’s more information available, then we can get it for him.
- I think a lot of times it goes back to, if you get a phone call for instance, you’ve got an issue, or someone is making us aware of an issue that’s going on. A lot of times, that’s what makes something happen.
Messaging when sending reports, requests, etc…
- A lot of times it goes back to how this is going to affect Kansas, put it on a personal level. Everything right now is how much is it going to cost. That’s always important.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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What type of information do politicians need to have/know to make a decision?
- Those involved in public service need up-to-date, accurate information. We need to know both sides of the story. University information is important but it can also be manipulated. Prime example is with the climate change reports from 10-15 different Land Grant Universities. K-State even has two conflicting "reports" on climate change impacts. Often times one is discreated (sic) based off of who requested the report.
- I would agree and say that reliable sources is very key as well. I guess information that is coming directly from a source or agency. I agree with what RF is stating.
- I’d say it kind of depends on what it is but one thing my boss always wants to know is how it’s going to affect Kansas, how the people that a certain issue is going to affect, whether it’s agriculture or business…how this decision will affect real Kansans.
- … for someone like President Bush, he's only going to get involved if it's more of a national or state effort.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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How do you determine what is a ‘credible’ source or ‘credible’ information?
- [We] tend to feel more comfortable with national organizations rather than regional. I think K-State is definitely considered as a great source and credible "organization" but … the more you can come together and promote something, rather than one report coming from one college and another request coming from another office, the better it is for people like us anyway.
- Organizations that we’ve developed a relationship with, that we know we can trust, are definitely more credible than something we’ve never heard of before. Ryan mentioned something earlier, as far as the university goes, it can vary on who’s doing the study, where the grant came from…there’s all these biases that can creep in when you’re looking at individuals like that. Universities, generally, I think Kansas State is pretty well trusted, but individual reports or things can be different depending on the circumstances.
- Something that is more concrete than word of mouth. Items in writing from trusted sources. Organizations and individuals who have proven themselves over time. I feel like publications coming out of universities can be very credible. It is also important to know a little background on the funding behind a study as well.
- First-hand accounts, a reporter who has a long history on the topic, long standing relationship. Each university has their own specialty. I would trust K-State on wheat research or crop insurance but not so much on organic or vegetable crops. Needs to be brief but also have enough information to have a clear understanding of the issue.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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What is the best way to reach you when you are on recess?
- Person-to-person if we are back on campus. K-State has the annual staffer day in August that we gain a lot of good information. Very useful. Especially with the NBAF inviting out of state staffers who happen to be involved in the process. Risk-benefit is extremely important. The environmental movement is almost a religion today. Some people want to shut down all business because he harms the environment.
- The only issue I would say, sometimes, if you are sending something to us by mail, [Staffers Name Omitted] and I travel a lot during recess, if we come back and there’s a big pile of two weeks’ mail on our desk, then something could get missed. That might not be the best.
- I think (Legislative Staff Tours) are real good things. The staffer day in August usually…you spend one day on campus and one day somewhere else where K-State is doing something. Those are really good to see what is going on. Even random days when one of us happens to be in Manhattan. I’ve gone to the Wheat Genome lab, I’ve seen things that we’ve gotten federal appropriations for. I think those are good things, to see things that are not just on paper.
FORMAT: One-hour interview conducted on Tuesday, April 27 via Adobe CONNECT with legislative aides. All of those interviewed are K-State graduates.
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