LTC (Ret.) David E.A. Johnson Praises Media Effort

Washington, DC, January 18, 2010

LTC (Ret.) David E.A. Johnson, CADS Executive Director, praised the expanded media effort today at a gathering of Center Fellows and Staff. Colonel Johnson noted the importance of a robust media presence for a non-profit organization like the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (CADS), “The ability of our Fellows and researchers to support the dialogue concerning 21st Century security challenges enables the Center to accomplish its mission.”

Over the past year, the web-site has been revised to include social media and a popular blog, The Global Security Monitor, resulting in a 300% increase in traffic. Fellows and staff have made over 50 appearances on Fox News, MSNBC, BBC, Sky News, and Al Hurrah television networks. The AFRICOM Conference on Capitol Hill was carried on the Federal News Wire. Articles with Center bylines have appeared in print as varied as The Los Angeles Times and Military Review.

Most important is the Center’s branding as a centrist think-tank in Washington, DC. An MSNBC host referred to CADS as a “Fact-Tank” during a recent appearance to refine discussion of the surge strategy in Afghanistan. While the Center provides a vehicle for Fellows and researchers to promote their expert opinions, according to Johnson, “They need to remain non-partisan, issue-focused, and academically credible. This is especially important and difficult when dealing with the global security issues we care about passionately. It requires maintaining a firm grasp on our adjectives, similes, and metaphors”. This less-entertaining approach is garnering unexpectedly high marks from the popular media.