Fort Wayne’s PR Problem

The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana (pop. 250,000) is handling public affairs more like a village of 50. Until this week, the city’s image was handled by the same guy who owns and edits the weekly paper, and owns a PR firm.

Public Information Director Vince Robinson stepped down from his city job this week, after he and his girlfriend filed protective orders against each other. The two allegedly brawled during two separate incidents in October.

Robinson held the same position for the city in 2000-2001 under a different mayor, and started Diversity Media after leaving the first time. His company owns the INK weekly, and co-publishes the Fort Wayne Reader. It also bills itself as a PR firm with clients including…the city of Fort Wayne. Until re-taking the job with the city, Robinson personally edited INK.

We hope the incident will precipitate a clearer division of church and state.

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