We did a post a little over a year ago called Failure to Report. In it we outlined items that at the time, in our editorial opinion, it was in the Manufactured Housing Industry's best interests not to comment or report upon. There are often such matters at play, which might – for example – involve political negotiations, that if exposed could prove harmful to what would otherwise be a good process and outcome.

Are there such matters at play today? As they say in Wisconsin;

YouBetcha.

If someone truly cares about the MH Industry and publishes news, then it makes sense to have a policy akin to Hippocrates' oath for MDs, "first, do no harm."

While we love to be the first or share exclusives, we often wait on a story until the 'timing seems right.' Currently, in Washington DC and beyond, there are behind-the-scenes efforts at play. These may bode well for our Industry, and it speaks well of what a number of our industry's leaders are doing.

But this is not the time to spotlight it. If someone ran an exclusive report, it might damage the very process underway. So for now, we will 'fail to report.'

Scandal Mongering

Next, while an exclusive or hot headline is always a good thing for readership, we don't want to be scandal mongers. Believe me, various types of potential scandals are out there, as most of you know. This person slept with that Vice President of Dept F, and a 12 year marriage falls apart. There are kids, broken hearts and arguably even business consequences. Do we report it?

Nope.

I'm happy to say that it has been a while since sometimes loud comments by a tiny handful of naysayers publicly called us the "national enquirer" of manufactured housing news. We are an electronic trade media publisher, or e-zine. We strive to be positive, but we look at tough issues, like the current one on captive chattel finance's viability in this incredibly tough regulatory environment.

But we aren't a scandal rag. While there may be a time that a story like who slept with whom above (yes, a real MH story) might in theory merit NYC Mayoral wannabe Anthony Weiner type coverage, the rule will be that such stories will be ignored by us and won't be run here.

As this has come up again recently, some examples may help make the point for those who have asked or wondered.

What not to say

A very small number advised us of an industry personality who has a family member who wanted to follow in dad's footsteps, and got into an often challenging sector of our Industry. Regrettably, that adult offspring of an MH personna failed, or at least the bank's legal action against them would lead us to that conclusion. We failed to report this – in fact, we deliberately ignored, and don't plan to publish – such a story.

Why? Certainly at this point, there is no apparent impact on MH, so it is a mostly private matter.

Similar, yet different, is an adult offspring of another well known industry personna. A British publisher ran a story, picked up by some in the U.S. media, about an out of wedlock child allegedly sired by a rising music star and this adult MH offspring. The story names names, incorrectly reporting the role in MH of a parent. It is mentioned here even obliquely because allegedly a federal employee sent an email linking the story that has been circulated in MH circles. Some messages and calls have asked, why isn't this in MHProNews?

Again, it is mostly a private matter. FYI, based upon what is known at this point, if anything, this ought to be a good reflection on the parents – at least three different parents – on more than one level.

Unless such as story reaches some sort of critical mass that requires commentary, this is not the sort of thing that generally ought to be in our Daily Business News, or as a Featured Article, Masthead blog post, etc.

Purely hypothetical

If I have a squabble with my better half, I would not want to read about it in an MH trade publication. If a relative of yours or mine did something embarrassing, oh well, how should that PROFESSIONALLY impact you or me?

Having been on the receiving end of false rumors or malicious statements, doesn't mean that I want to perpetuate that or "get even" with those who do so. Getting even would only reduce us to that level…

…the level of throwing dirt. No thank you!

What is and isn't industry trade news

It is one thing to report on ISSUES that are professional in nature. Example. If you or I started publicly lobbying for the creation of a new association, or the destruction of an existing association, that is a potential matter of interest for a serious industry trade publisher. We may well cover such, and in fact have in the past.

By contrast, who slept with who's wife or husband (besides the spouse), or who shot whom during a poker game…

…sorry, not in the least bit interested in reporting on that if it is avoidable (FYI, the reports on the latter we have was the shooter was cleared, on the basis of self defense).

A client's question

A client asked me, what if bad news hit a client of yours? What do you do?

Good question, a fair one. Answer?

Report it accurately and with an effort at balance. But even before that happens, what if the bad news was not generally public knowledge? Then why would we report it at all?

Bad news can be changed, mistakes corrected. If a bad news story doesn't reach a level of critical mass, if it isn't being emailed around the internet, or published in a some way by the mainstream or trade media, why would we want to report it?

Great Industry, Spotlighting Good efforts and News

Ours is a great industry made up of professionals who – like all others – make mistakes. We don't ignore problems or challenges, we opt to focus on the good and we dare to dig into meaty topics in a balanced way.

One of a number of the messages that came in the wake of one of our interviews said (typo corrections): 'This is a good interview. You get to know the person more. You also get to learn more about what they are doing that may be helpful professionally. Thanks for sharing (these) interviews.'

My question in the interview with Champion's Phyllis Knight about the "glass ceiling" is one sparked by comments I've heard from a number of women or minorities in our industry. Mrs. Knight's reply is interesting! When thoughtfully considered, it ought to inspire others.

We interview this month one of the industry's veteran association execs, Nancy Geer. She has insights on why they include manufactured home owner groups as association members. That's pretty controversial, in some circles! It is one of many thought provoking insights from our A Cup of Coffee with…Nancy Geer.

We also just published our latest in the periodic series geared for the broader public audience, A Breakfast with…Mary Gaiski, Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Assocation.

Deliberate – or thoughtless – embarrassment?

When I read someone's column or email that masquerades as news but is instead at best a thoughtless attempt to embarrass another organization or person, I wonder, why would someone do this? How does it help our industry?

Does it even help the writer?

Ladies and gents, we are

• over two years into an uptick of new manufactured home shipments. Mods are up too!
• We have positive efforts at play in HR 1779 and related.
• Though associations and political connections, we made a valiant effort that missed on getting Vic DeRose into the MH program role at HUD. Rick Rand may have been right on this one! But the role is still open, and word has it that some good people are in the running. It will be filled in the near term.
• We have promising signs in tests and results from our new Industry image campaign.

The Point?

Our industry is too small and fragile to risk blowing it up over petty nonsense!

When I say 'fragile,' that doesn't mean that it is going to blow away with the first wind. We've proven how resilient our industry is, perhaps notably in the manufactured home communities sector, in this post 1998 down-turn. Some are not only doing very well, some are doing better than ever. So 'fragile' in this context means perceptions by others. We are not only surviving, we are growing anew, as noted above.

Even when legitimate mistakes are made, once the milk is split, you clean up the mess, hopefully learn not to tip or drop the glass or bottle, and then move on. Constantly revisiting the split milk in a mostly negative fashion is not helpful.

Positive thinking doesn't mean you deny it is not raining, when in fact the water is pouring down. Positive thinking is seeing the rain, grabbing an umbrella, and realizing that we can grow more flowers, veggies, wheat – and trees! – so we can build more homes, feed more people and make our world an ever better place.

So for a variety of sound reasons, the point is let's not deliberately embarrass our fellows in the industry, especially in a public way, notably when it is avoidable. That's not the same as a cover up, it is better known as good manners.

"First, do no harm." ##

PS: Check our many Exclusive and Red HotFeatured Articles for August and see the other new stories at MHLivingNews.com too.

L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com | MHProNews.com |
Business and Public Marketing & Ads: B2B | B2C
Websites, Contract Marketing & Sales Training, Consulting, Speaking:

MHC-MD.com | LATonyKovach.com | Office 815-270-0500 |

Connect on LinkedIN:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach