Leading as an Introvert: The Benefits and Risks of Laissez-faire Leadership How Political Leaders Utilize Traditional and Social Media to Market Themselves as Trustworthy and Credible The Abolishment of the Non-Entertaining Programming Requirement and the State of Radio News: Effects on Tennessee's Major Markets Since 1985

Brandon Long is a News Director for the NBC affiliate in in Macon, Georgia. Previously, he worked as an Anchor/Reporter and Anchor/Managing Editor for this station. He moved to Middle Georgia in 2004 from Tennessee after working in newsrooms at WPTY/WLMT-TV in Memphis and WBIR-TV in Knoxville. 

He graduated from The University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Communication and studied television news and political science. He has been active in a number of professional and community organizations, including Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. 

He enjoys the unending support of his wife Shelby, his daughter, and dog, Scout.

Favorite Quote: "One who beareth the torch, shadoweth oneself to give light to others." The Torchbearer Creed 

Articles:

• Leading as an Introvert: The Benefits and Risks of Laissez-faire Leadership

• How Political Leaders Utilize Traditional and Social Media to Market Themselves as Trustworthy and Credible

• The Abolishment of the Non-Entertaining Programming Requirement and the State of Radio News: Effects on Tennessee's Major Markets Since 1985

Leading as an Introvert: The Benefits and Risks of Laissez-faire Leadership

By: Brandon Long
Assertive, extroverted leaders are generally celebrated as having the best approach to leadership. This review explores the alternative and examines the benefits of leaders who utilize a laissez-faire leadership style and are inclined to lead as introverts. For example, voters in the Republican presidential primary in 2016 are currently faced with choosing from among these two styles as they consider Donald Trump and Jeb Bush. Trump is known for his brashness. In contrast, Bush is known for his more calculated and carefully crafted policy proposals and speeches. Introverted leaders work best with proactive followers because they know how to create an environment that matches raw talent with clear goal-setting to secure success. But, even when leaders who lean toward introversion are faced with followers who are not proactive, they can adapt and manage with techniques characteristic of extraverted leaders to accomplish organizational goals. 

How Political Leaders Utilize Traditional and Social Media to Market Themselves as Trustworthy and Credible

 By: Brandon Long

            Political leaders have the challenge of cutting through the clutter of public discourse to communicate their specific messages and portraying an image that is worthy of their constituencies. More often, political leaders seeking public office are turning to social media to connect with and gain supporters. This connection is essential to how they are marketing themselves, often as credible and trustworthy citizens poised to lead and solve the problems of the day. At the same time, those messages also allow professional political communicators the opportunity to craft specific, orchestrated messages designed to effect election outcomes and perceptions of candidates for public office. This research aims to explore how political leaders use traditional and social media channels to market themselves as trustworthy and credible.