The MLB Winter Meetings: What Do You Do? Adam Liberman, Sr. Media Relations Coordinator, Atlanta Braves

Last year, I asked a number of people attending the MLB Winter Meetings to write for us what they actually do.  Since the information is still relevant, I'm going to re-post their entries, starting with Adam Liberman of the Atlanta Braves.

Adam Liberman has been the Senior Media Relations Coordinator for the Atlanta Braves since 2000.  I asked Adam what functions he performs at the Winter Meetings.  Here are Adam's thoughts:

"The Winter Meetings for a PR person is a good time to learn and get caught up on the happenings around baseball.

"Generally you arrive in town the day before the meetings kick off, so Sunday this year for the Monday start.  It is important to be checked in with your team's GM/baseball operations to know if something is on the burner or if anything comes up.  Each team has a suite where the "movers and shakers" gather.  The type of place with laptops and research, but also a place to catch your breath and have a snack.  So it is good to check in there early and often.

"The first two days of the meetings the PR folks from around the league gather together.  There is a Round Table session with the various rightsholders (ESPN, FOX, TBS, MLB, XM) and other groups such as the BBWAA.  This is a chance for each side to communicate issues or questions or to make suggestions back and forth.  Sometimes it is to introduce people or new entities, such as the new MLB Network.

"Then there are speakers who come in to talk about things.  This year (2008), Tony Petitti, MLB Network President and CEO, spoke to the PR folks to give them an idea of their plan and vision.  Sometimes people who specialize in media training or crisis media may come in to provide ideas and explanations that are always good to have.

"There is a PR survey that is sent out in advance of the meetings that focuses on many of the PR issues each team has.  It gives a good idea of what other teams do and where your club fits in.  For example, press box rules or media guide printing amounts or quantities.  The survey results are gone over too.

"There is a reception for the Fishel Award one of the nights, usually the first.  The description of the award:

"The Robert O. Fishel Award, named after the long-time baseball executive, goes to the 'Active, nonuniformed representative of Major League Baseball whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards
propounded by Robert O. Fishel.'

"The next day is a series of speakers about current impacting topics.  It can be anything from the World Baseball Classic to updates from MLB's business side of things.  Usually a special PR-related speaker will come in and share their experiences.

"That is the main gist of the PR meetings.  Keep in mind, at any point we might have to leave to head to the suite to handle a potential trade or signing release.  The GMs keep us in the loop.

"Also, each day we try to gather our main beat folks to meet with our GM so they can get a daily update and ask questions about things they may have heard, etc.  That usually is up in the suite.  There is always a chance of an announcement and if that happens it can be in the suite or a press conference at the hotel, but that is not usual since the player(s) are rarely at the meetings. 

"Another miscellaneous thing that varies by year is meeting with potential intern candidates.

"Finally, if need be, we will handle any necessary announcements from the Rule 5 draft, which comes at the end of the meetings."

Interesting?  I thought you'd think so.  Thanks, Adam.  Great stuff.