Top 10 mistakes people make with the news media
- Date: 2008-05-15 - Word Count: 600
Share This!
There are any number of mistakes people make when they're faced with dealing with the news media but, in my opinion as both a journalist and media trainer of long standing experience, here are the top 10 mistakes.
1. Not believing that it's your interview as well. Thinking that it's purely the journalist's interview and worrying, therefore, about what you might get asked. Remember the Henry Kissinger line as he strode into media conferences - "anyone here got any questions to go with my answers?"
2. Giving in too easily to the media instead of standing up for yourself. I've seen CEOs who wouldn't take any rubbish from people at work submit like a pussycat to the news media - and it's not a pretty sight.
3. Agreeing to instant interviews instead of making sure you allow enough time for proper preparation. Lie to the media if you have to - they'll lie to you to get their own way and you might have to use similar tactics, like fibbing that you're in an important meeting and that you'll call them back in 20 minutes. That much preparation time might be short but it's a lot better than no preparation at all.
4. Believing every word in the journalist's questions. Quite often, journos will invent things to try you out - a kind of fishing expedition to see what they can catch. Remember that you're the expert and that's why the media are chasing you so don't let them browbeat you with exaggeration, bluff or downright lies.
5. Being far too polite if you're asked impertinent or ill-mannered questions. In my media training workshops I always advise participants to think of a social situation like drinks at the bar, a dinner party or a BBQ with neighbours - and react to the journalist as you would if you were asked such a question there. That usually makes them stand up for themselves a little more - see point 2 again.
6. Forgetting your bridging phrases and sitting there with an open mouth and blank mind. There's any number of these phrases. I heard a new one last night on TV news that I thought was worth repeating - "look, I'm not here today to talk much about that, but I can tell you that...."
7. Failing to have key messages and delivering them. You need to develop three or four key messages and have evidence to back them up. Then, make sure you inject them into the interview - otherwise, why are you there talking to the journalist in the first place? With practice, you should stick to your messages and repeat them, with variations in the words used so it doesn't sound like you're repeating yourself.
8. Not injecting some "entertainment value" into the interview. Too many people believe the news media are there purely for information gathering but today's news media, more than ever before, want that information delivered in an entertaining fashion. That could involve pithy catch-phrases, analogies, humour or scorn - any number of techniques. Perhaps just letting your own personality show is a good start.
9. Not being passionate about your messages. How can you expect to convince the journalist and his/her public about your sincerity and beliefs if you're not being passionate about them? Nothing kills a media interview more than a lacklustre performance by the interviewee.
10. And, finally - not understanding the limitations of radio and TV compared with print. Print will take a lot more detail (especially local newspapers) than its electronic counterparts. But, if you can appear on TV regularly, even with short interview grabs, you can build up a far more powerful image and perception in the public mind.
1. Not believing that it's your interview as well. Thinking that it's purely the journalist's interview and worrying, therefore, about what you might get asked. Remember the Henry Kissinger line as he strode into media conferences - "anyone here got any questions to go with my answers?"
2. Giving in too easily to the media instead of standing up for yourself. I've seen CEOs who wouldn't take any rubbish from people at work submit like a pussycat to the news media - and it's not a pretty sight.
3. Agreeing to instant interviews instead of making sure you allow enough time for proper preparation. Lie to the media if you have to - they'll lie to you to get their own way and you might have to use similar tactics, like fibbing that you're in an important meeting and that you'll call them back in 20 minutes. That much preparation time might be short but it's a lot better than no preparation at all.
4. Believing every word in the journalist's questions. Quite often, journos will invent things to try you out - a kind of fishing expedition to see what they can catch. Remember that you're the expert and that's why the media are chasing you so don't let them browbeat you with exaggeration, bluff or downright lies.
5. Being far too polite if you're asked impertinent or ill-mannered questions. In my media training workshops I always advise participants to think of a social situation like drinks at the bar, a dinner party or a BBQ with neighbours - and react to the journalist as you would if you were asked such a question there. That usually makes them stand up for themselves a little more - see point 2 again.
6. Forgetting your bridging phrases and sitting there with an open mouth and blank mind. There's any number of these phrases. I heard a new one last night on TV news that I thought was worth repeating - "look, I'm not here today to talk much about that, but I can tell you that...."
7. Failing to have key messages and delivering them. You need to develop three or four key messages and have evidence to back them up. Then, make sure you inject them into the interview - otherwise, why are you there talking to the journalist in the first place? With practice, you should stick to your messages and repeat them, with variations in the words used so it doesn't sound like you're repeating yourself.
8. Not injecting some "entertainment value" into the interview. Too many people believe the news media are there purely for information gathering but today's news media, more than ever before, want that information delivered in an entertaining fashion. That could involve pithy catch-phrases, analogies, humour or scorn - any number of techniques. Perhaps just letting your own personality show is a good start.
9. Not being passionate about your messages. How can you expect to convince the journalist and his/her public about your sincerity and beliefs if you're not being passionate about them? Nothing kills a media interview more than a lacklustre performance by the interviewee.
10. And, finally - not understanding the limitations of radio and TV compared with print. Print will take a lot more detail (especially local newspapers) than its electronic counterparts. But, if you can appear on TV regularly, even with short interview grabs, you can build up a far more powerful image and perception in the public mind.
Related Tags: pr, media training, media coaching, media interview, public rleations
Graham Kelly is a media trainer who's helped thousands of executives in nine different countries handle the media more confidently. If you like his top 10 mistakes listed here, you'll love his set of 95 media training tips and five articles on key training points. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Resurgence of Fred Perry Clothing
Summer might long be over and Wimbledon may be a distant memory, however the fashion is a year round - Uncovering Men's Tank Tops
I don't know a thing about you, but I'll bet that you have worn a tank top. Tank tops have also been - Make Use of Silk Scarves to Take Good Care of Your Skin
In the event you are new about silk scarves, you could never read about this particular feature of s - Just For Men Scarves - the Preference For Guys in the Vogue Domain
If you are not certain what style of present you could provide for men, maybe you can consider men s - Think Black Friday Shopping is Beyond Your Budget?
Moms who are juggling the bills and still trying to provide the perfect holiday gift to loved ones a - How to Make Conscious Shopping Choices
Many people have heard the phrase "voting with your dollars" and they understand that it means your - Silk Scarves - Unique Present Approach in Xmas Seasons
The most prevalent silk add-on is scarves, and many focus is presented on inspired designing on thes - Benefits of an Aloe Vera Shampoo
A lot of people are not aware of the specific benefits that using an aloe vera shampoo can do to the - How Effective is the Power of Your Subconscious Mind?
Most people are bombarded with this thought whenever they feel weak and wish to affect certain chang - Silk Scarf - the Record For Human Being in the Style History
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the worldwide recognition of silk scarves developed dramatica
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Surf and Turf: the Race Track
Surf and Turf: The Race TrackOne of the favorite places for The G to hang out at, especially in Summ - Are You Looking For Cholesterol Drugs Without Side Effect?
High cholesterol level is probably one of the widely spread complication among Americans. Almost for - Friday the 13th could be a lucky day?
Friday the 13th sounds unlucky ? Traditional superstition ? And a lot of people dislike it and beli - Don't Judge A Man
Our world is full of bad tongues, fault-finders, gossipers, mockers, and insulters but do these grou - When Personalized Gifts Make a Difference
Finding the right gifts for a particular occasion is always a challenging task. Sometimes it is nic - Managing My Resistance: Learning To Flow With What Life Offers
One of the things that interests me most about conflict is the tendency to resist it and the ways in - What Are Horoscopes Based On?
If you do not know much about astrology, you may wonder what are horoscopes based on and how astrolo - 7 Dumbest Relationship Mistakes Smart People Make
We often find ourselves amid the wreckage of a love gone wrong, wringing our hands and asking, "Why - Motivation as the heart of self improvement
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Motivation in the following paragraphs - Is Complete Abstinence from Use of Paychoactive Substances Necessary for Recovery?
Can a sober alcoholic in recovery who has no history of abuse of marijuana, use marijuana without