It’s the perfect day to announce change

After spending nearly a year pointing out government problems from the outside, I’ve decided to become a more effective agent for change on the inside. I’ll soon give up this column to take a position in the White House communications office as a special liaison to the nation’s alternative press.

Pretty surprising the Republican team would want me, no? It seems the outreach may have been inspired by my recent column supporting President Bush. Anyway, after passing a quick background check (I have no convictions), I met with a deputy communications director in Seattle. I was dubious about the job, but also curious to see what it would feel like to be on a winning team. And after Lorel Grewego described the opportunity over drinks (the Bushies aren’t all business), I was sold.

Recently, much has been written about the administration’s practice of beaming “video news releases” to TV news outlets. The Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog agency, believes the videos constitute illegal covert propaganda. But the Justice Department disagrees, and the president says the expensive publicity program will continue.

I’ll be overseeing a print version of those releases, targeting alternative weeklies. We’ll give readers of those typically left- leaning papers fairer, more balanced accounts of government activities. For instance, when a weekly harps on necessary cuts in the school lunch budget, I might highlight the many awesome cafeteria options vegetarian kids still have.

Let’s face it, though: Video news releases do raise a few tiny ethical concerns. The segments look exactly like regular news reports, for one thing. And although TV stations know the videos come from the government, the stories don’t mention that fact. So, sure, a few viewers might think the segments represent old-fashioned reporting.

For all those trivial issues, though, what’s so sinister about government-produced news? It’s not like the president forced hundreds of stations to ignore the Radio-Television News Directors Association suggestion to “clearly disclose the origin of information and label all material provided by outsiders.” Plus, many of the videos take popular stands. The Office of National Drug Control Policy crafted a segment warning kids to avoid illicit substances, for example. If that’s not newsworthy, what is?

One of my first tasks will be to jazz up government press releases so they speak the language of young readers – who tend to be wary of the president’s initiatives. Basically, I’ll be making HIPAA hip and abstinence alluring.

Only after I freshen up the government’s press-release style will I move on to more substantial duties. Within a year, Ms. Grewego expects me to start drafting edgy- but-patriotic news stories for placement in alternative weeklies. The pieces will cover issues of concern to the key 18-34 demographic. (Sample headline: “Putting the hizzle in Homeland Security.”) Best of all for editors, the features will be offered free of charge and ready to print.

Look for the stories under my regular byline and various pen names I’m developing. The government wants to reach diverse audiences, after all, and readers who see my real name on two or three features a week might start asking questions that detract from the intended messages. That’s why I’ll also write as Guillermo Escovedo, Vivian Wu and Ndugo Umbo.

So thanks for sticking with me these many months. I hope you’ll also be fans of my government- sponsored writing. Even though the new job doesn’t start for several weeks, this just seems like the perfect day to clue you in.