Confirming Dr. Lisa Cook to the Fed

The Communications Challenge

Authors

  • Carter Dougherty Practitioner

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32473/jpic.v7.i1.p16

Abstract

On May 10, 2022, Dr. Lisa Cook was confirmed by a 51-50 vote in the U.S. Senate as the first Black woman to join the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. A coalition of groups supporting her nomination worked to counter attacks from Republican senators with a track record of targeting nominees of color and to contain the impact of right-wing critics on social media. A comprehensive communications strategy built around emphasizing her experience and expertise included tactics to prevent racialized attacks on Dr. Cook from becoming mainstream. Identifying a clear opposing figure, depriving social media trolls of amplification, and turning the phenomenon of white privilege to her advantage all played a role in the public interest communications strategy that aided Dr. Cook’s successful confirmation.

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Published

2023-06-09

Issue

Section

Practitioner Perspectives