We at Rasky Baerlein are proud of our talented public relations and public affairs experts across the firm’s practice areas. In our new Meet the Expert series, we sit down with a different agency leader every Monday to get their thoughts on several important and timely questions and gain a greater sense of their industry expertise and experiences. This week we sit down with Senior Vice President in our DC office, Dave Tamasi.

You’ve been working in the industry for well over a decade now. How has it changed over the years, and how have you adapted in the process?

The increase in digital media has made everything far more transparent and easily found. No longer are the days when legislative remedies could be accomplished quietly. We must now demonstrate the broader policy implications on the most local of issues.

You were a journalist before transitioning to public relations. What insights did you gain as a journalist that have helped you become a better PR professional?

Story arc – the elements that drive a story remain the same. Tension is still king. If you can frame your client’s position as feeder for that narrative, you have a far better chance of generating earned media that is more aligned with their message.

You spearheaded Rasky Baerlein’s inaugural Washington Insider Survey covering public advocacy spending that was released this past week. In your opinion, what is the single biggest takeaway from the survey? Why?

The greatest takeaway is that advocacy requires multiple components. All might not be necessary at the same time, but all will be utilized over the course of a campaign.

What sets Rasky Baerlein apart from the rest when it comes to its approach to public relations and public affairs?

What sets us apart is that we not only have intellectually curious strategists, but they also possess the relationships necessary to execute.

If you could offer clients one piece of advice, what would it be?

My advice would be that achieving advocacy objectives take time. It requires appropriate financial resources, necessary energy and personal commitment.

For more on Rasky Baerlein’s industry expertise, please click here.

To read our Washington Insider Survey, find it for free here.