Scott Anderson (photo: El Paso County)
FARGO (KFGO) – Fargo’s new communications director is nearly two weeks into the job, and already has taken time to visit with department heads and other government communications professionals in the area.
Scott Anderson is a Houston, Texas native who has spent time as a communications professional in private business, nonprofit, and government. He says that has formed his approach to communications. Prior to coming to Fargo, Anderson was the communications and public relations manager for El Paso County in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Anderson says as someone who had never even been to North Dakota before coming to Fargo to interview for the position, it’s important for him to get an idea of the people and culture.
“I really want to get a good understanding for what this community’s appetite is for information and what type of information they want, and how they want it shared with them,” Anderson says. “Because, if I don’t know that, if I come in here and just think, ‘I have all the answers, I’m going to do my thing,’ I’m going to fail spectacularly. Because everyone is different, and everyone should be different and it’s great that everybody is different. But if I don’t learn that and if I don’t listen, I’m never going to be able to succeed.”
Anderson says he believes, when communicating, it’s important to explain the “why” behind decisions – something he’s found difficult from a large-government communications style.
“You would hear the ‘what’ very often, but I don’t feel like you would hear the ‘why,’ very often,” Anderson says. “You can attribute that to whatever you like – the quick news cycle, the short attention spans, or whatever the case may be. I think, especially on a local level where we do have the ability to be a little bit more intentional, it’s really important to show how the information affects residents.”
Anderson fills the position that was held by Gregg Schildberger who resigned with the rest of his leadership team after a contentious period involving communications, particularly as it pertained to the police department. He says he knows he has work to do when it comes to building trust with the community and some on the city commission. At least one commissioner has criticized the size of the communications department. Anderson says he will work to help commissioners understand the value of the communications department as a resource for them.
Anderson says part of his department’s role is to build that trust among the City of Fargo, the commission, and its residents through conversations.
“Showcasing what those conversations look like, how they happen, what they’re about – that’s my job to share with our City Commission – those are the things that we do and that’s the value that we bring to the organization,” Anderson says. “If the City Commission decides they want to go a specific direction, then that’s their decision to make and it’s my job to help support the City Commission with the decisions that they make.”
Anderson calls the role a great responsibility to city leaders and residents.
Anderson’s first day with the City of Fargo was last week Monday. City Administrator Michael Redlinger says Anderson’s annual salary is $144,206.
The City of Fargo communications department currently has six employees, including Anderson. Besides the director, the team includes a multimedia designer, community engagement strategist, multimedia producer, public information manager, and broadcast services manager. There are three other positions within the department that are vacant and frozen. Anderson says how many, if any, of those positions get filled will be based on larger discussions and an evaluation of department goals going forward. Two communications roles were moved to Public Safety. One of the roles is filled, the other is allocated, but still open.
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