🧵What’s B.C.'s biggest "media operation"? Perhaps only rivalled by @cbcnewsbc, it’s Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE), the people behind @BCGovNews. Annual budget ~$28M. The PR dept. of #bcgov is managed by @bcndp political appointees. #bcpoli
The executive committee is generally cabinet-appointed. Deputy Minister @DonZadravec spent 10 years at National PR and was a lobbyist for a pipeline company. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
The Assistant Deputy Minister's Office of Strategic Communications is now headed by Sage Aaron, @jjhorgan former communications director who was transferred from the Premier's office in September. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
Sage Aaron is also in charge of "cabinet priorities" for #GCPE. The PR department of government is key in the governing party's permanent campaign. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
Issues management office at #GCPE is key. These are the people involved in the spin. They "manage issues." It's their job to come up with the lines to feed the media. Sometimes the press gallery sings from the same GCPE-issued "choir sheet." Sometimes it doesn't. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
It's the 21st century. A digital world. So, a digital communications office that pushes the official @bcndp party line through social media, straight to your device. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
The #GCPE events office. Not very busy for much of 2020 (except when some took a break to join the election campaign). They set up photo ops, news conferences and @jjhorgan jet trips. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
One of the biggest offices in @bcndp #BCGov PR dept. is Media Monitoring. Eyes and ears of the government. The people who compile all the TV, radio, newspaper, website and social media mentions of the politicians and issues facing #bcgov, for an in-house newsletter. #bcpoli
B.C. is a multilingual province, so a multilingual services office at the government PR department. #bcpoli #cdnfoi
The climax! Every ministry has its own office. Biggest? @adriandix Ministry of Health PR, headed by @bcndp operative/lobbyist @jtferrier. Many reporters are frustrated with this office, for being secretive and slow. It really should be the opposite. #bcpoli #cdnfoi #covid19
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