Media Relations

Ann McGlynn, Quad City Times health reporter, is of the opinion that companies and media partnerships are “bad.” She, however, is in the minority.

In the results of a survey conducted by media writing students of 18 communication professionals conducted in April 2007, only 2 percent said that partnerships between media and corporations were bad. Of professionals surveyed 33 percent of those were of the opinion that it actually benefited the community.

“We push the line with our Friday health section. Genesis has a significant amount of advertising. It has been scaled back. It’s not so prominent. But that concerns me as a writer. But I also know that bills have to be paid. When I started as the health reporter it was the wrap and that was just abysmal to me. I hated that thing and there was no happier day in my career than when that thing went away. It’s now inside the section, which is a little bit better, but it’s still a lot,” McGlynn said.

McGlynn, however, does feel that local companies are portrayed fairly in the media and according to the survey 61 percent agree with her. This number was opposed by 11 percent who thought it could be better and 6 percent who thought there was a positive bias toward companies.

Lieutenant Don Gano is a spokesperson for the Davenport Police Department who also thinks that companies are portrayed “pretty fair.”

“The media will go on anything that they can dig up. If we try to hide something and chances are that they are going to find it,” Gano said.

Those surveyed were also asked about how the community was portrayed in the media. Only 22 percent responded well, while average and poorly received 33 percent of the vote apiece.

Shanna Manning, Communications Coordinator for DavenportOne, thought that they were positive.

“I feel that the whole community is equally represented. I would say that the downtown is focused on more because it has more happening and it is developing faster than the rest of the community.”

Those surveyed were divided equally, 50 percent men and 50 percent women. Of professionals surveyed, 67 percent were currently in journalism and another 28 percent work in the public relations field.

While it is unclear how long partnerships between media and local companies will go on, what is clear is that there will always be strong feelings about them.