PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write

…..Also, for me, this is the second in a series of blog on “the media then and now”…

Well, the answer to the proposition in the headline depends on who is speaking.

Several reporters were asked about the press conference last week in an interview piece in the Washington Post and they gave various answers, but the basic proposition was this: Trump managed to command the “news cycle,” if there is such a cycle any longer, at least for day.

The Trump Administration’s posture with Russia was pushed off most front pages or TV leads as the focus shifted to what Trump said in a press conference that was scheduled on the fly. In that venue, which he believes is made for him, he shifted the focus again and again to what he wanted to talk about, not about the previous day’s headlines, which he labeled “fake news.”

To his credit – if that is a word that can be applied to Trump after one month in office – he answered questions from reporters. Sort of. He bridged to the information he wanted to provide rather than dealing with the topics of the questions.

In that way, it reminded one reporter of a famous quote from Ronald Reagan: “Before I refuse to answer your questions, I have a statement to make.”

If all of this is a Trump strategy, even an ongoing one, you have to assume there is a strategy in the first place. Often, it just seems like a series of unconnected events, including when Trump presumes he is his best spokesman.

As one reporter put it: “Look, Trump will reserve the right to make game-day decisions every day of his presidency. If he feels that his narrative is unraveling, he will take the bully pulpit by the horns and self-correct. He does that because it works for him.”

To another reporter, Trump’s press conference was a great example of the difference between campaigning and governing. “During the campaign,” this reporter said, “he could go out, do this kind of press conference or event, say whatever he wanted, and the campaign and world moved on with little consequence.

“It’s different when you’re president, as Trump and his team are learning. When you say something, it is evaluated in the context of actual facts and real policy implications.”

From a communications standpoint, I don’t think it is a good idea to engage in non-stop warfare with the media as Trump is doing. Unlike in a political campaign, you cannot make the problems of government go away with a press event or a rally.

As I wrote earlier, I do not believe the Trump approach to the media – presidential counselor Steve Bannon likes to call the media “the opposition party” – will stand the test of time.

Better to engender credibility by being honest and straightforward. Provide the facts, not just “alternative facts.” Live with media coverage in the belief that, if you are honest, the programs and proposals that marked your campaign will resonate with the public which voted you into office in the first place.

Sadly, my view is that such a posture won’t happen. Trump continues to jeopardize his own by success by his bizarre behavior. To him, it will be simply another series of events or tweets – all, to me, without a solid political or public relations rationale.