Paul Schur: The FishbowlDC Interview

Say hello to Paul Schur, a DC-based PR man who earlier served as a spokesperson for Fox News Channel, the head of talent relations for CNN PR, and a spokesman for CNN Interactive. His clients include CNN vets Daryn Kagan, Carol Lin and Brian Kosisky, author Kelly Perkins, and the late Motto magazine, founded by two veteran WSJ reporters. What word do you routinely misspell? Affect and effect. I know, one's a verb and one's a noun. I still can't keep 'em straight. I type "dictionary.com" into my browser knowing it's okay that I'll never (EVER!) get it right my own. What is the name of your cell phone ring? Free - kind of says a lot. What time did you get up this morning? 3:30 am - It's a combination of too many windows and glass doors downstairs, a lot of covert activity in the backyard at night, and my cat Jake's overactive imagination. When did you last cry and why? Last week as I watched areas of my hometown burn to the ground. How many emails do you receive a day, roughly? I started my own PR firm in August 2006, so I can joyfully tell you that I receive a hell of a lot less than I used to -- on or about 40-50 a day? It's just the right amount. What's your favorite letter? The French W. What single person played the biggest role / had the biggest influence on your journalism career? I have clients who are journalists and authors, but I'm in the media relations business. So the person who has had the biggest influence on my media relations career is my former FOX News boss Brian Lewis. Nobody is better at media relations than Brian is. Period. Read the rest when you click below...(and see previous FishbowlDC interviews: Julie Mason, David Shuster, Joe Curl, Alex Pareene, Peter Beinart, Jonah Goldberg, Megyn Kendall, Ana Marie Cox, Jim Brady, Howard Mortman, Amy Argetsinger, Jose Antonio Vargas, Chuck Todd, Tom Gottlieb, Kelly Ann Collins, David von Drehle, David Lat, Mark Leibovich, Zain Verjee, David Plotz, Paul Kane, Karen Travers, Mark Halperin, Hugo Gurdon, Greg Kelly,Ken Rudin, John Dickerson, Anne Schroeder, Spencer Ackerman, Bret Baier, Bob Sellers, Greta van Susteren, Danielle Jones, Jonathan Salant, John McCalla, Pam Hess, Ryan Grim, Marc Ambinder, Marty Kady, Jack Shafer, Annie Lou Bayly, Jerry Zremski, Charlie Cook, Dave Hughes, Howard Fineman, Katie Tarbox, Mark Segraves, Chris Cillizza, Tom Sietsema, Bill Triplett, Robin Givhan, David Brody, Norah O'Donnell, Carl Cannon, Jordan Lieberman, David Folkenflik, Molly Henneberg, Ernesto Londono, Brody Mullins, Aaron Blake, Martha Raddatz, Andrew Sullivan, Christina Bellantoni, Shane Harris, Nora McAlvanah, Adam Nagourney, Erin McPike, Mike Memoli, Ju-Don Marshall Roberts, Arthur Delaney, Chris Mincher, Rachel Sklar, Laura Sullivan, Jeff Kosseff, Matthew Cooper, Scott McCrary, Dan Reilly, Jennifer Griffin, Ari Shapiro, Jonathan Kaplan, Rick Klein, Mike Allen, Olivier Knox, Erik Wemple, Nathan Burchfiel, Andrea Mitchell, Mike DeBonis, Anne Kornblut, April Ryan, Amy Morris, Keith Koffler, <strongMark Silva, Ann Compton, Mark Knoller, Betsy Fischer, Katherine O'Hearn, Pamela Brown, Beverly Kirk, Wendell Goler, Glenn Kessler, Susan Page, Michael Crowley, Claudia Milne, Kelly Dinardo, Bruce Becker, Michael Rogers) Also, drop us a line to let us know who else you'd like FishbowlDC to interview. They must work in the Washington area and you must include their email address. When's the last time you volunteered? Where? Does speaking to Lorrie Lynch's class at American University about the wonderful world of media relations count? If not, I'll have to borrow the last part of Rachel Sklar's answer to the same question. Who is your favorite active journalist? Lisa de Moraes and Paul Bedard are two of my favorites. What did you have for breakfast? I'm a creature of habit, so it's pretty much the same each day -- Nature's Path Organic Optimum Power Breakfast Flax, Soy and Blueberry cereal, organic low-fat milk, low-fat string cheese, and one cup of coffee. What one toiletry item could you not live without? I'd have to say dental floss. If you could have one superpower, which one would it be? Can I instead have a potential super power -- the EU! Red or white wine? Coca Cola Light, por favor. PG-13 or R? This film is not yet rated. Lincoln, Jefferson or Washington Memorial? Lincoln. His statue seems to be using sign language to represent his initials. It's all about communicating - that and the fact that he and my Mom have the same birthday. Leg or breast (chicken, of course) Breast. Friday night or Saturday night? Friday night. "Wedding Crashers" or "Old School" I'll say Old School because somebody was clever enough to put Ellen Cleghorne into the film in an uncredited appearance. The Palm or Cafe Milano? Sooooo not my style. Yankees or Red Sox? Under normal circumstances, I'd say the Los Angeles Dodgers (welcome Joe Torre!) But, c'mon, even I get that it's Boston's time in the sun. Jenna or Barbara? Chelsea again McSteamy or McDreamy? McJump the McShark. Leno or Letterman? NO COMPETITION -- LETTERMAN! And he's been IT for decades. When I headed up talent relations for CNN PR, I arranged a photo shoot with the "women of CNN HLN", Robin Meade, Rudi Bakhtiar, and Sopia Choi. I put them in Letterman baseball caps and white t-shirts that read, "We *heart* Dave" in my attempt to win over the Letterman guest bookers. It didn't work. But I still have the Polaroid's . . . wanna see? (Can I get sued for this?) Stewart or Colbert Stewart, because he has a wonderful producer, Hillary Kun. Boxers or briefs? I have never understood the concept of boxers.

Fishbowl

Paul Schur: The FishbowlDC Interview

Patrick

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Patrick