I am confused and perplexed.
I receive and read press releases virtually daily--often 10 or more in a week, and I have for many years.
I will admit that I did NOT take a course in Press Release Headlines in undergraduate school or in law school. And I do not have a Degree in Mass Communications.
The headline on Friday's press release from Dr. RJ Johnson, Ph.D. (RJ), the Shreveport Council's Director of Council Affairs, has me confused. It reads "Shreveport City Council Issues Statement on the Tragic Homicide of Christian Gant."
The first sentence reads "Councilman Jim Taliaferro (District C) and Councilman Grayson Boucher (District D) extend the deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Christian Gant, who was tragically shot and killed while making a food delivery in the community." The presser does not name/mention the other five members of the Shreveport Council.
So, my questions are these:
1. When does two (2) equal seven (7)?
2. When did the definition of "council" not refer to the full body of elected officials?
3. Do mail order master’s and doctorate degrees teach new math?
4. Does a Ph.D. degree authorize ignorance of basic vocabulary words?
This press release naming the Council versus two members of the Council is not the first misleading and inaccurate press headline from Johnson. Seemingly Johnson did not read or agree with a recent Settle Talk dated Feb. 4, 20-25 "RJ Johnson Continues to Send Out Inaccurate Press Releases Concerning Shreveport City Council" (see below).
If the Shreveport City Council wants the media to give any credibility to any press releases by RJ then any future releases should have accurate headlines and accurate content. These glaring mistakes by RJ bring to bear why he is being paid over $90,000 for a job that seemingly has no real value to the Council and Shreveport citizens.
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RJ JOHNSON CONTINUES TO SEND OUT INACCURATE PRESS RELEASES CONCERNING SHREVEPORT CITY COUNCIL
RJ Johnson is the Director of Council Affairs for the Shreveport City Council. The services he renders to the council in that capacity are basically unknown to the public, and probably to several council members as well.
One task that Johnson has assumed in recent months is sending out press releases to the media. Three recent releases are inaccurate and misleading. These were NOT unauthorized nor approved by ALL the council members BEFORE being sent out to the media.
The most recent release was dated Feb. 4. The headline is "Shreveport City Council Mourns the Loss of Former Councilman Joe Shyne."
The first line of the release reads "The Shreveport City Council joins the community in mourning the loss of former Councilman Joe Shyne, a dedicated public servant who devoted 23 years to the city."
The last paragraph reads "The Shreveport City Council extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of former Councilman Joe Shyne. This dedication and service to the city will forever be remembered."
The press release includes quotes from council members Tabatha Taylor and James Green.
The subject press release on Shyne was NOT authorized nor approved by ALL the council members before being emailed to the media.
The headline "Shreveport City Council Mourns ..." implies all seven council members--not two. A more accurate headline, and body of the release, should read "Two Shreveport City Council Members Mourn..."
Johnson sent out a press release dated Jan. 23, 2025, captioned "Shreveport Council Addresses Shooting Incident at Walgreens on Line Avenue."
The first line reads "The Shreveport City Council expresses its concerns and support following the recent shooting incident at Walgreens on Line Avenue in District B." The last line reads "The Shreveport City Council stands in solidarity with the residents of District B and the entire community reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens."
This release has quotes from District B councilman Gary Brooks and council chair Taylor.
This press release was NOT authorized nor approved by ALL the other council members before it was emailed to the media.
On Nov. 25, 2024, Johnson sent out another press release with an inaccurate headline--"The Shreveport City Council Mourns the Loss of Lynn Nelson-Stevens, Tireless Advocate for the Disability Community."
The first line--The Shreveport City Council joins the community..."--is again inaccurate and misleading. The release was NOT authorized nor approved by ALL of the council members prior to its release.
Johnson has recently been awarded a PhD degree. Seemingly he should realize that he has sent out faulty press releases. Despite the sentiment of the releases, the releases are not correct.
Johnson and the Council should take steps to ensure press releases in the future are correct, appropriately approved and not misleading. Additionally, Johnson should be instructed to not delete this writer from his email list because of disagreement with the context of this blog.
NOTE: These observations and conclusions are not meant in any fashion to denigrate Joe Shyne and his services to the City. Nor to diminish the Walgreen's shooting/murder tragedy or the value of the services rendered by Lynn Stevens to the community ate the next generation of department heads.