Special Section: Insurance Crisis

Media Savvy

Posted Jan 16, 2007 by Baird Helgeson

Updated Jan 16, 2007 at 07:18 PM

Perhaps this group is getting a little too media savvy.

Several members of the group are tallying how many interviews they did with various television and newspaper journalists. Some are calling home telling family members to set their VCRs to record the newscast of stations that interviewed them.

A few have come back to my seat on the bus to share their thoughts about the day or the property insurance crisis (all much appreciated).

John Quinn took it a step further and decided to start issuing me hand-written statements during the day. So far, he has given be two of these news releases.

In one, he criticizes Allstate and State Farm insurance companies for socking Floridians with higher rates while spending millions of dollars sponsoring pro sporting events, everything from football to auto racing.

He is more hopeful in the other note. “We are witnessing a united front of all classes of people, melting together, to save our homes and families from sinkhole premiums that have reached ransom levels.”

Though 76 and retired, Quinn could have a successful career in public relations.