MediaSmart

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about whether the media is good or evil. For purposes of our work as people who thrive through a symbiotic relationship with journalists, we’re going to focus this week on how you can make their jobs easier. For the most part, reporters are stretched thin, and have less […]

When working with the media, your main goal is to convey your message effectively. That seems simple enough – but it’s a tall task when you need to translate lots of complicated information for a general audience. Researchers, economists, computer programmers and many others live in a world of complex data. This week, we discuss […]

As with so much else, preparation is key before walking into a media interview or facing journalists at a news conferece. And a key part of that preparation is anticipating likely questions. This means preparing for the tough ones – not just the “softballs” – and questions that delve into details not covered by the news release. […]

It’s easy to think that your job in a media interview is to impart your wisdom and facts upon the reporter, and as long as he or she nods, smiles and takes a few notes, you’ve accomplished your mission. But ultimately, it’s important to speak in a way that connects with your audience – that […]

The media has taken a beating lately, especially in the presidential election. Depending on whom you ask, TV and radio stations and newspapers are somewhere between untrustworthy and completely irrelevant. All of this talk may have you wondering whether it’s even worth giving journalists the time of day. Why not just promote your organization through […]

The opposite of connecting with your audience is distracting them. In this episode, we discuss three distractions that can kill your message – and ways to avoid each of them. They include: Dressing to distract Use of filler words Poor eye contact Click the ‘Play’ button to hear Episode 42 of MediaSmart!

According to some, PR pros should be seen but not heard in media interviews. Others insist they should stay completely away from the interview in the first place. Then, there’s the crisis comms consultant for former Baylor University Chancellor and President Ken Starr, who became part of the story when she injected herself into an […]

Before you pitch your story to a journalist, it’s helpful to think through the criteria he or she will use when deciding whether your story is “news.” To be sure, the equation will vary depending on the reporter, the news outlet, when you’re calling and even what else is happening that day. To some extent, […]

Mark Twain once said: “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” On this episode, we discuss how one of these can help you do great interviews. (Hint: It’s not ignorance.) When conducting media training sessions, I’ve noticed a cloud of uncertainty sometimes hangs in the room – […]

Back on Episode 34, we addressed some timely headlines that involved people in the limelight declaring war on the media. This week, we revisit the topic to focus on a very specific battle in that war: banning journalists. From Donald Trump’s official revocation of the Washington Post’s press credentials to a similar move by the […]

Organizations with crisis management plans are ready to communicate effectively when the unexpected happens. Yet the work involved with developing such a plan can be daunting, causing many organizations to make the unfortunate decision to fly without one. In this episode, we hear from Melissa Agnes, an international crisis management keynote speaker and consultant. She […]

We’ve talked previously about how and when to “phone in” a media interview. This episode is about mailing it in – more specifically, emailing your responses to a reporter. As with all interview approaches, it comes with both benefits and drawbacks. While connecting with the reporter in person or by phone is typically preferable, it’s […]

At risk of waxing overly philosophical, so much in life is about striking a balance. So, too, are media interviews. Whether you’re on TV, on the radio or being interviewed for an article, many of the keys to effectively communicating your key messages boil down to a balance in several key areas, including: How you […]

Sometimes, taking a stand against a journalist is justified. But sometimes it’s not, and amounts to an ethical misstep or even breaking the law. In this episode, we look at four examples ripped from recent headlines: Donald Trump’s war with Megyn Kelly of Fox News How a confrontation with a reporter led to charges against […]

Being natural and conversational is important in a media interview – but what if being natural for you involves some bad habits that get in the way of your message? On this episode, we hear from Lisa Elia as we explore a range of powerful methods and daily habits to help you improve how you […]

We often hear – including on places like Episode 2 of MediaSmart – about the need to craft three key messages that you want to deliver in any given media interview. My guest in this episode tells us how those three messages fit into a bigger strategy. Brad Phillips – also known as Mr. Media […]

If your crisis communications plan includes the phrase “Duck, cover and let it blow over,” this episode is for you. “When the going gets tough, many of us tend to either say too much, or nothing at all.” So says this week’s guest in a recent column on Bulldog reporter. Hartley Butler George, a Senior […]

Being face-to-face with a journalist is always best, but sometimes, it’s just not possible. That’s when a phone interview may be an option. If you end up “phoning it in,” make sure it’s not by cell or speakerphone, if you can avoid it. The fact you can’t see the reporter will affect the discussion – […]

There’s so much to remember when you’re on camera giving an interview. We covered some of it back on previous episodes – but this week, we put it all together with MediaSmart’s first-ever guest, TJ Walker. Walker is the founder of Media Training Worldwide and has been conducting media training workshops and seminars since 1984. […]

Media interviews can lead to great things – except for when they don’t. Even a well-prepared spokesperson can have an off-day or be caught off-guard by a couple questions, perhaps causing them to panic and clam up live on camera. Or maybe he gave answers that he thought were 40 seconds each, when in fact […]

As the Chipotle restaurant chain attempts to get a handle on a rash of food-borne illnesses at its restaurants, the situation can teach us three important lessons about working with the media, including: The perils of playing the blame game — What happened when the CFO’s words went public How journalists love trend stories — […]

Are you getting way too much media attention and looking for tried and true methods of scaring journalists away? This week, we focus on some actions that tell the reporter loud and clear: “I don’t get it.” These include failing to call back – or calling back late, assuming the reporter can stretch the deadline […]

In this week’s episode, we continue a discussion that started in Episode 24: How should you handle a journalist who comes charging at you with tape rolling and wants some answers? Fueled by listener feedback, we explore several ways to defuse the tension created by an ambush interview, including: Answering a reporter’s question, then pivoting […]

As you pop out of your car, a reporter pops out of the bushes and demands answers to some questions! Okay, so it may not be quite that abrupt – but you could someday find yourself face-to-face with a reporter when you least expect it to happen, when you least want it to happen or […]

Media interviews are like sports, playing a musical instrument or any other skill: they become easier with practice. The good news is that practicing for an interview is painless and relatively simple. All you need is a cell phone with a camera, decent lighting and a colleague or friend to ask the questions. In this […]

There are a lot of voice coaches out there who will eagerly take your money to give you hours of training on how to speak and use your voice. The good news is that’s not necessary for most people – and in fact, learning how to use your voice effectively is much easier than you […]

Often, crisis communications can mean an organization is called upon to respond quickly to a situation that threatens its reputation – and perhaps its bottom line – and most likely for the long-term. Think: A high-profile company official arrested or a product recall. On August 26, a nightmare situation forced a Roanoke, Virginia TV station […]

“We need to do some PR around that.” It’s a phrase uttered by many people, and it can often mean many different things. If you shape your expectations of an interview around a flawed understanding of PR, you could alienate the reporter instead of building a relationship that could lead to more interviews in the […]

It seems like pretty much everyone who’s out there trying to get media attention covets the national spotlight, so much so that many people would drop everything and do whatever a TV network or national newspaper asks. This episode addresses the potential harm in taking this approach, especially with every story, every time. One key […]

Among the inherently flawed questions you could be asked during an interview is one with a faulty premise – a “no win” question such as the popular (albeit crude) example: “Senator, when did you stop beating your wife?” Rarely is such a question asked innocently by the reporter. As we discussed back in Episode 12, […]

Some recent happenings on the Republican campaign trail teach us important lessons about relating to the media. Actions and statements by Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump serve as great examples as to how: Releasing potentially sensitive information allows you to control the message – when done carefully and deliberately. Bad timing can turn […]

We’ve all seen television interviews with someone whose clothing or jewelry is so gawdy that you don’t even hear what they’re saying. Instead, you’re busy staring at that super-busy paisley tie or that floral blouse from hell. Dressing appropriately for a TV interview is all about picking an outfit that will help you come across […]

Life can’t be fun in FIFA’s PR office these days. The world governing body behind soccer – or as most of the world calls it, football – is the subject of two separate, serious investigations into potential criminal wrongdoing. Amid the allegations came a series of public gaffes by former senior FIFA official Jack Warner […]

Off the record. On background. Anonymous source. Under embargo. Often, these terms mean different things to different people – which is why it’s so easy to get burned when you think you’re telling a reporter something “off the record.” You also have to be prepared for the journalist to use such information accidentally – or […]

Most people know to avoid the phrase “no comment” during a media interview. Doing so usually amounts to an overly curt or abrupt response that suggests the interviewee is hiding something. However, there are other effective ways to say the same thing – without having those two words attributed to you in print. At an […]

In an interview, a journalist’s chief goal is to obtain information – and some reporters are willing to employ some slick tactics to get what they want. They include: Pretending to take your side on an especially divisive issue to entice you into doing the interview – and possibly let your guard down. Starting with […]

As reporters are human – as are most editors – they’re bound to make mistakes. These could range from the relatively minor glitch to a royal screw-up that amounts to the journalistic equivalent of the Titanic. They might include: Messing up your name, title or institution Fuzzy math Facts presented out of context “Facts” that […]

We talked in earlier episodes about earning a journalist’s trust by being a dependable, ethical source of information. But you want to work with reporters whom you can trust, right? After all, trust is a two-way street in the reporter-source relationship. There have been some glaring examples recently of media behaving badly, and I bet […]

Some public relations professionals spend most or all of their time pitching stories to the media – that is, trying to convince reporters to cover their organizations. As a result, some PR people make it seem as though pitching a journalist is like playing with gasoline near a fire, or something that should only be […]

Though it took place well over two decades ago, I’ll never forget the high school musical rehearsal when my friend Tom – the lead – walked into an off-stage bathroom while wearing his wireless microphone. The audio engineer was apparently asleep at the switch, as we all then heard Tom “do his business” loud and […]