In this special Communications 101 edition of "We Don't Color On the Dog," host Rick Outzen sits down with political strategist and crisis communications expert Ryan Wiggins to dissect a challenging few weeks for Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves.
From a botched recycling program rollout to the controversial resignation of the city's police chief, Wiggins breaks down what went wrong and offers practical advice for managing municipal communications during turbulent times.
Wiggins, who has extensive experience in Florida politics, including work with The Lincoln Project and various state campaigns, doesn't hold back in her assessment of the mayor's communications team while offering praise for Reeves' overall performance.
She discusses the importance of community engagement before policy changes, the critical "seven-touch rule" for public messaging, and why elected officials should never handle crisis communications themselves.
Whether you're in politics, public service, or just interested in how local government communicates with residents, this episode offers valuable insights into crisis management, transparency, and the art of owning your mistakes before they own you.
