Negotiating and advertising in politics interview

 Elections are around the corner. All political camps have geared up in order to help their candidates to achieve a win. Therefore today we will be speaking on the negotiations that occur between advertising and politics. I take great pleasure in interviewing political analyst Ricardo Franco Colon. He holds the position of “Lead Press Secretary”, for Puerto Rico House Representative Elizabeth Casado.. Which allows him to be involved and deal directly in all negotiations regarding advertising for his Superiors.

Many issues arise because of fanatics behind the political battles in Puerto Rico.  Mr. Franco-Colon exhibits the same confidence.  Over the phone we discussed two simple questions. How can negotiations between media advertisers’ and politicians create a strain to both parties?  What is the biggest factor to juggle in any negotiation? Are their any human factors?

         There was a sigh of relief on his behalf; a relaxed state of mind took over. Which was followed with a swift answer, explaining that no negotiation is set in stone. “There are many variables to take into consideration for example that the perfect billboard or space to place your banner is owned, not by a political activist but by a sleeper.” Complicating the issues for the parties involved in the negotiation for the advertising spot being discussed as a possibility. “If you do not analyze and research just trusting that the business common sense will overcome the problem you are being very naïve.”

         His response to my next question was a welcomed mystery. “People are the problem who can eliminate them”.  Emotionally we are all tied up with concerns that revolve around our feelings related to particular issues. Whether or not the people sitting in the meetings have a political agenda is not always so clear. What we do know is that people have issues always, especially when it involves government.

         In Puerto Rico political fanatics are everywhere, but the undecided constituents are the ones whose pose the biggest headache to political candidate hopefuls.  So being told that people are the problem was not the exciting answer I was waiting for. But in all honesty we as human beings are the biggest problem. We are so complex that to analyze each one us is an almost impossible mission. Doing your homework and researching the possible sides involved in the negotiation is a must. By uniting research, tendencies can be deducted. So my advice to you readers is to try to factor in the leverage in all negotiations to separate people from the problem. That is the only conscious action to enlist as your winning tactic in a successful negotiation.