Michael Otterson
Encyclopedia
Michael R. Otterson is the managing director of Public Affairs
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
, he entered journalism in his native city of Liverpool
before moving to Australia
where he worked as a political reporter and sub-editor in South Australia
and Canberra
. Following a year's stint as a sub-editor on the Japan Times in Tokyo
, he returned to the UK and was appointed Business Editor for the Liverpool Daily Post
.
In 1976 he left journalism to manage the London
public affairs office of the LDS Church, which was then the only such office outside of the United States. He remained there until 1979 as Public Relations director for the LDS Church in the United Kingdom
,when the church invited him to move back to Australia to open a new public affairs office in Sydney
. He remained in that post for 12 years before moving to the United States in 1991 to manage the worldwide training program for church public affairs operations. He managed the church's news media relations from 1997 to 2008, when he became managing director of LDS public affairs. Otterson has served twice as a stake president — in Liverpool, England, and in Sydney, Australia.
article about the Latter-day Saints, taking issue with its characterization of the LDS Church as acting on superficial instead of deeply held beliefs. In 2003 Otterson was also the LDS Church's main point man in its response to Jon Krakauer
's book on Mormonism, Under the Banner of Heaven.
In 2005 Otterson downplayed John M. Haddow's attempt to make the exclusion of Mormons from the National Prayer Breakfast
connected with the National Day of Prayer
into an issue of concern.
He was engaged as early as 2006 in positioning the Church as politically neutral in relation to Mitt Romney
running for president
and once wrote an article in which he argued that Romney's religion should be a non-issue. He also was very vocal in stating that the LDS Church would give no institutional support to Romney.
In 2008 Otterson confirmed that Proposition 8
was one of the initiatives the LDS Church had been most heavily involved in.
In late 2009 Otterson gained national attention by making an official statement for the LDS Church in the Salt Lake City Council meeting in favor of city ordinances that included sexual orientation and gender identity among categories covered in fair housing and fair employment regulations. A year later, on October 12, 2010, he delivered an official statement for the Church on bullying of gay young men.
Otterson has a regular blog published by the Washington Post on Mormon-related issues. Among topics he has addressed is the 2011 The Book of Mormon (musical) on Broadway.
Public relations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Public relations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has become of increased importance to the church's hierarchy since the church's increased international growth after World War II. By the 1960s and 1970s, the LDS Church was no longer primarily an Intermountain West-based church,...
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Biography
Otterson is a convert to the LDS Church. Born and educated in BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, he entered journalism in his native city of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
before moving to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where he worked as a political reporter and sub-editor in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. Following a year's stint as a sub-editor on the Japan Times in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, he returned to the UK and was appointed Business Editor for the Liverpool Daily Post
Liverpool Daily Post
The Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...
.
In 1976 he left journalism to manage the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
public affairs office of the LDS Church, which was then the only such office outside of the United States. He remained there until 1979 as Public Relations director for the LDS Church in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
,when the church invited him to move back to Australia to open a new public affairs office in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He remained in that post for 12 years before moving to the United States in 1991 to manage the worldwide training program for church public affairs operations. He managed the church's news media relations from 1997 to 2008, when he became managing director of LDS public affairs. Otterson has served twice as a stake president — in Liverpool, England, and in Sydney, Australia.
Statements
In 2003 Otterson responded to a NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
article about the Latter-day Saints, taking issue with its characterization of the LDS Church as acting on superficial instead of deeply held beliefs. In 2003 Otterson was also the LDS Church's main point man in its response to Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer is an American writer and mountaineer, primarily known for his writing about the outdoors and mountain-climbing...
's book on Mormonism, Under the Banner of Heaven.
In 2005 Otterson downplayed John M. Haddow's attempt to make the exclusion of Mormons from the National Prayer Breakfast
National Prayer Breakfast
The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide...
connected with the National Day of Prayer
National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day...
into an issue of concern.
He was engaged as early as 2006 in positioning the Church as politically neutral in relation to Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
running for president
Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2008
Mitt Romney was a Republican Party primary candidate in the 2008 United States presidential election. On January 3, 2007, two days before he stepped down as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission...
and once wrote an article in which he argued that Romney's religion should be a non-issue. He also was very vocal in stating that the LDS Church would give no institutional support to Romney.
In 2008 Otterson confirmed that Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
was one of the initiatives the LDS Church had been most heavily involved in.
In late 2009 Otterson gained national attention by making an official statement for the LDS Church in the Salt Lake City Council meeting in favor of city ordinances that included sexual orientation and gender identity among categories covered in fair housing and fair employment regulations. A year later, on October 12, 2010, he delivered an official statement for the Church on bullying of gay young men.
Otterson has a regular blog published by the Washington Post on Mormon-related issues. Among topics he has addressed is the 2011 The Book of Mormon (musical) on Broadway.
Writings
Besides periodical columns and various articles, Otterson is the author of Finding Your Family on the Internet: The Ultimate Guide to Online Family History Research.Sources
- Time Magazine, Nov 26, 2006
- Middletown Journal, Nov. 11, 2009
- Meridian Magazine article that quotes Otterson
- Oct. 19, 2006 Boston Globe article that mentions Otterson