Tips on How NOT to Fight Criticism

eSchool News offers a tip to school board officials on how to handle criticism of their policies. In sum, don't do what Pamela Greenbaum did:

According to an article in the Nassau Herald, Greenbaum was "horrified" by the remarks and the blog's purported readership of 300,000 visitors annually.

Unfortunately, by taking legal action, she has managed to elevate the controversy from a local dispute to the global blogosphere.

A quick Google search yielded another 135,000 results, and the story has jumped from niche newspapers to the mainstream--and national--press.

The moral of the story is that public officials, especially elected school board members, need to have thicker skins.

The law clearly favors free speech, and proving malice--a requirement in libel--is tough. Meanwhile, Orthomom's readership and her folk hero status continue to rise.

Even bloggers who disagree with her viewpoints are coming to Orthomom's defense. "Public debate and the fostering of open communications--particularly in the forum of public education--is not only useful, but absolutely necessary," said a recent post on the Community Alliance blog. "Though unfortunate that some would stoop to name-calling and ad hominem attacks, those in the public's line of fire (as is Trustee Greenbaum) must learn to either take the heat or stay out of the kitchen."

Ignoring bloggers and other citizen journalists clearly isn't the answer, however. Remember John Kerry and the Swift Boat controversy? Kerry assumed the mainstream media--and voters--wouldn't consider the anonymous and unproven allegations credible. When he finally started fighting back, his campaign had already derailed.

A better approach, public relations experts say, is to aggressively and proactively tell your side of the story--and engage the community in the issues.

It would have been nice had Pamela Greenbaum tried to "engage the community in the issues", but apparently, that is not something she is at all interested in doing. Why, isn't it so much easier to lash out at your critics with frivolous legal action than actually try to rationally, intelligently, and reasonably explain why they're wrong?

Also: The NY Sun reports on the lawsuit.