Topeka ? About 80 Republicans from the 2nd Congressional District gathered Saturday to attend discussions on public policy issues and the media.

In a workshop entitled “Working with the Enemy (media relations),” David Kensinger, former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., provided a “Republican’s guide to media relations.”

In an outline of his workshop, Kensinger handed out the following points:

1. The media are too powerful to be ignored.

2. The purpose of the media is to carry your message.

3. Write the story for them, including the headline.

4. Reporters are biased; get over it.

5. Make the bias work for you.

6. Brevity is beautiful.

7. Do not repeat the charge.

8. Do not deny the undeniable.

9. Share the sugar.

10. Good manners are good politics.

11. Never lie – document everything … twice.

12. Pictures tell a story.

13. Humanize, localize, personalize.

14. Repetition is education.