2
She has hours to get it done. It has to sound exactly like her boss. There is no room for mistakes. Dr. Lindsay Hayes is a political speechwriter. She has several speechwriting experiences including working for Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and the Republican National Convention. Hayes double majored in political science and communication at Boston College as an undergraduate before beginning her career as a political speechwriter. During her speechwriting career she received her PhD in rhetoric and political culture from the University of Maryland. Speechwriting is something that Hayes has wanted to do her whole life. “I like what I do,” said Hayes. “Go find a job that you would do for free, don’t tell anyone you would do it for free.” Political speechwriters are not supposed to be in the spotlight, according to Hayes. Hayes stays under the radar when she is on the campaign trail because it is supposed to be about the candidate, not who wrote the speech. Before speechwriting Hayes interned for the White House during the Bush administration and taught at the University of Maryland while completing her doctorate. Hayes was the only graduate HAYES OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Speechwriters receive several speechwriting jobs outside the campaign trail. Hayes assisted Paul Ryan for nine months in 2014 with writing his book “The Way Forward.” Hayes is currently working on a project that looks in to the history of women in politics from 1929 to 2012. She is specifically focusing on women who wound up running because of their husbands. Hilary Clinton is a big focus for this project because of the upcoming election, according to Hayes. Hayes doesn’t consider herself a feminist but said, “ I think it is sad that a woman has to have the same résumé as Hillary Clinton to be seriously considered.” More and more “Go find a job that you would do for free, don’t tell anyone you would do it for free.” –Dr. Lindsay Hayes University of Maryland Graduate Writes For Republican Politicians Dr. Hayes at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

News Editing and Writing Final Project

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

I completed several different types of assignments in my news editing and writing classes at the University of Maryland, including this project.

Citation preview

Page 1: News Editing and Writing Final Project

She has hours to get it done. It has to sound exactly like her boss. There is no room for mistakes.

Dr. Lindsay Hayes is a political speechwriter. She has several speechwriting experiences including working for Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and the Republican National Convention.

Hayes double majored in political science and communication at Boston College as an undergraduate before beginning her career as a political speechwriter.

During her speechwriting career she received her PhD in rhetoric and political culture from the University of Maryland.

Speechwriting is something that Hayes has wanted to do her whole life. “I like what I do,” said Hayes. “Go find a job that you would do for free, don’t tell anyone you would do it for free.”

Political speechwriters are not supposed to be in the spotlight, according to Hayes.

Hayes stays under the radar when she is on the campaign trail because it is supposed to be about the candidate, not who wrote the speech.

Before speechwriting

Hayes interned for the White House during the Bush administration and taught at the University of Maryland while completing her doctorate.

Hayes was the only graduate student during her internship at the White House. She met Marry Matalin, a political consultant known for working with the Republican Party, on her first day interning at the White House.

“It was like meeting Beyoncé,” said Hayes.

After her internship at the White House, Hayes went to Capitol Hill and worked for Senator Ted Stevens for four and a half years.

She then worked as the head speechwriter at the Republican National

Convention in 2008, where a McCain staff member approached her.

He asked her if she would like to leave the next day and work on the campaign as Palin’s head speechwriter. Hayes agreed.

Who to work for

Most political speechwriters don’t go looking for candidates; candidates come looking for them, said Hayes.

“I have been working for long enough that people know about me and seek me out,” said Hayes.

--more--

H AY E S O F F T H E C A M PA I G N T R A I L

Speechwriters receive several speechwriting jobs outside the campaign trail.

Hayes assisted Paul Ryan for nine months in 2014 with writing his book “The Way Forward.”

Hayes is currently working on a project that looks in to the history of women in politics from 1929 to 2012. She is specifically focusing on women who wound up running because of their husbands. Hilary Clinton is a big focus for this project because of the upcoming election, according to Hayes.

Hayes doesn’t consider herself a feminist but said, “ I think it is sad that a woman has to have the same résumé as Hillary Clinton to be seriously considered.”

More and more women are being brought in to campaigns. “I am often the only woman among other speechwriters,” said Hayes.

Political speechwriters are not working 365 days per year. “I enjoy my schedule,” said Hayes. “I will be busy for months at a time and then I will have a lot of free time to myself.”

Hayes enjoys having time off to spend with her child at home. Hayes now runs her own firm. She uses free time to focus on her firm.

###

“Go find a job that you would do for free, don’t tell anyone you would do it for free.” –Dr. Lindsay Hayes

University of Maryland Graduate Writes For Republican Politicians

Dr. Hayes at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.  (source: Lindsay Hayes)

Page 2: News Editing and Writing Final Project

Martin Luther King

"I have a dream."

1963

Abraham Lincoln

Gettysburg Address

1863

Ronald Reagan

"Challenge"1976

Ted Kennedy's Undying "Dream"

1980

John F. Kennedy

"New Frontier"

1960

The Speechwriting Process

Dr. Lindsay Hayes, like many other writers, has a very unique process of writing.

Hayes’ process begins with several different tasks around the house or errands. “It’s not procrastinating,” said Hayes. “It is sort of a process to start thinking about the speech over and over again.”

Hayes said she struggles with incorporating humor in to her writing. She asks for her husband’s opinion when she needs to include humor.

The ideal setting for Hayes to write is a quiet white room. This allows her to concentrate and write.

Speechwriters frequently have a staff of writers when working on a campaign. Hayes likes to split up speeches in to different parts and have each member work on a part.

Hayes and her staff piece each speech together after each member is done.

When a political speechwriter works for a candidate they have to get to know them very well.

“If I was going to agree with someone 100 percent of the time, I would just run for office”

- Dr. Lindsay Hayes

Hayes always does background research on potential candidates. She didn’t do her usual background research before working for Sarah Palin.

“She is fun,” said Hayes. “She has a unique style and takes risks that others don’t.”

Hayes doesn’t have to agree 100 percent with the candidates that she works for. Eighty-five percent agreement is enough for Hayes to take the job.

“If I was going to agree with someone 100 percent of the time, I would just run for office,” said Hayes.

Hayes is a big advocate for animal rights. She has been a vegetarian for the past six years. Sarah Palin is a hunter.

“Republicans have a much different approach towards animal rights than I do,” said Hayes.

###

Five Memorable Political Speeches

Ten tips for speechwriting. (source: www.forbes.com)