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Knowing your audience

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Knowing your audience

Why optics always matter even if you’re not focused on them

Ryan Hernandez
Oct 8, 2022
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Knowing your audience

www.ryanrecord.org

Earlier this week, I was talking to a friend. She asked me about my Substack and mentioned that it seemed more like a blog than an actual newsletter.

It reminded me about the power of optics and helped me make sure I explained to people that consume my content that there is a method to my madness.

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To my friend, it looked like I was just writing personal anecdotes about my life to get my viewpoints across. It was, of course, but I’ve been doing so much more.

To me, it was clear.

I haven’t written as much this week, but I have met with potential investors and consultants about how to launch a publication and who to target in each.

I’ve studied how news organizations like Axios, Punchbowl News, Semafone and other more established organizations have launched.

In that useful reflection, it also helped remind me of the importance of knowing your audience AND when to use your voice.

Shea Serrano is a New York Times Bestselling Author. He’s also from south San Antonio and #purosanantonio. He, of course, is a spurs fan. Someone asked him this the other day.

Twitter avatar for @SheaSerrano
Shea Serrano @SheaSerrano
Manu Genobili Bipolar GIF
Twitter avatar for @schuckthis
Steve Schuck @schuckthis
@SheaSerrano Tony Parker and manu Ginobli are hanging off a cliff you can only save one. Who are you saving?
3:07 AM ∙ Oct 8, 2022
101Likes5Retweets

For any real spurs fan that doesn’t have the last name Parker or isn’t French, that’s a normal answer.

However, if one looks at the basketball reference page and stats, some might wonder why tony isn’t the answer.

In a similar way, it’s why I laugh when I see college students, who mean well, by the way, who are so invested in their team, a.k.a. the “good guys” that they have to criticize the other team.

It hit especially when Texas Tech played Texas U a few weeks ago.

Never mind that Colt McCoy was from Tuscola or that Cedric Benson was from Midland, UT is the flagship so everything they do must be evil.

Similarly, in politics (here we go…), knowing your audience is crucial.

It’s why Beto cusses when he speaks to college students but not when talking to older voters.

It’s why Ted answers this way to someone who is a registered republican and was Jeb Bush’s press secretary in 2016:

Twitter avatar for @Timodc
Tim Miller @Timodc
This week I guest hosted @SHO_TheCircus and ran into my old friend @tedcruz in Arizona I asked him if he stands by his objection to the state’s 2020 electoral vote and well…it gets a little hot. Enjoy this teaser and tune into Showtime on Sunday at 8 for the full deal. HACK!
12:03 AM ∙ Oct 8, 2022
9,950Likes1,863Retweets
Twitter avatar for @tedcruz
Ted Cruz @tedcruz
The corrupt corporate media are dishonest hacks trying desperately to cover up the Biden disasters and save Democrat majorities in the House & Senate. They will fail. https://t.co/Yqne6pcwHU
Twitter avatar for @Timodc
Tim Miller @Timodc
This week I guest hosted @SHO_TheCircus and ran into my old friend @tedcruz in Arizona I asked him if he stands by his objection to the state’s 2020 electoral vote and well…it gets a little hot. Enjoy this teaser and tune into Showtime on Sunday at 8 for the full deal. HACK! https://t.co/HCoYgZK2hA
1:34 AM ∙ Oct 8, 2022
807Likes163Retweets

It’s also why it can be maddening to some (hint: me) when a politician just doesn’t admit to his misdeeds and work from there.

In this case, I wish the Heisman winner from Georgia would just admit it and move on. I don’t think people will not vote for him because of this, but his pride won’t let him admit he was wrong. Even if he’s a “baby Christian”, what a great way to show your newfound faith by admitting that your past was wrong and work on bettering yourself.

By the way, it’s Second Corinthians, not 2 Corinthians.

Again, I have to remind myself, as a journalist, I’m not Walker’s audience. Walker’s audience is people who watch Fox News and vote. Even though I have worked there and do vote, I’ve also worked at cnn and abc, so because of that, I guess I’m part of the liberal media…

By the way, did you know that Walker had his highest fundraising numbers during his interview with Hannity? If you can get some of that airtime, you do it.

Back to knowing your voice and using it when it matters:

Use your voice when you can help those who can’t help themselves.

Use your voice when you have knowledge of someone who’s acting in bad faith in a way that discourages people like you from speaking up.

So yes, friend. You were right. It has been more like a blog, lately. Thank you for letting me know your viewpoint.

I need to do better at writing regularly and updating you, the reader, on what’s happening.

Until then, I’ll leave this tweet up about me pushing back, just a little, on someone who I know is acting in bad faith and has been rewarded for being a troll:

Twitter avatar for @ryanmarc94
Ryan @ryanmarc94
When I worked for Fox News in 2017, Nick wanted to meet me, a production assistant, at the NHL Starbucks next to 1211 6th avenue. If I remember correctly, he also had an iPhone. https://t.co/yTzj4Y3W4L
Twitter avatar for @NickAdamsinUSA
Nick Adams @NickAdamsinUSA
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: I stand by everything I tweeted about alpha males. This country is not fulfilling its potential because of soy latte drinking effeminate men. It's time for the young men of America to put the iPhones and Starbucks down and pick up a Bible and eat a steak. https://t.co/KmpWk6tUA4
3:52 PM ∙ Oct 7, 2022


#sanangelo #hookem #redrivergame #txlege #localnews #commentary #anythingforselenas #substack

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Knowing your audience

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