Palin snubs local media on tour

One thing Sarah Palin's not doing on her book tour is talking to local media. At least, that's been the case so far.

Just over a year ago, with Indiana up for grabs in the presidential campaign, Palin was happy to sit down with NewsChannel 15.

But when her bus pulled into Fort Wayne Thursday, it was a different story. After seeking an interview for two weeks, NewsChannel 15 was finally officially turned down at the Maysville Road Meijer store just prior to Palin's arrival.

Matt Riehl, a member of Palin's advance team for the tour, confirmed there would be no local interviews.

In fact, NewsChannel 15 wasn't allowed within 100 yards of Palin's tour bus parked at the back of the store.

NewsChannel 15 had contacted several workers at HarperCollins, the publisher of Palin's book, through at least 10 e-mails or phone calls over the past two weeks seeking an interview and had gotten no responses. Our sister stations in Grand Rapids and Indianapolis, the first and third stops on Palin's book tour, reported similar fruitless efforts.

Why the lack of access? Local marketing expert Tim Borne, chairman of Asher Agency, says the answer's simple: Palin's goal is to get the media to focus on her book when she's swinging through. So if local reporters ask her questions on other topics, it messes up that plan.

"[If] she totally goes off message and then she leaves town, the media coverage -which is probably going to be local and regional- won't talk about her book, and that's really what she wants to do in Fort Wayne is sell books and sign books and stay on message," said Borne.

But when and if Palin returns to the area to stump for a political candidate or cause, Borne thinks she will be talking to NewsChannel 15 once again.
 

Borne said," I don't think you're going to get the interview until... the book sells out and she's ready to start making news again in Indiana."