I previously discussed ways of handling speculative, leading, loaded and naïve questions. This post will discuss how to deal effectively with these types of questions: Chummy False Know-it-all Good-bye And a bonus tip
The Media Interview: Handling Tricky Questions
When you’re talking with reporters or bloggers, it’s important to answer their questions clearly and concisely. Unfortunately, certain types of questions can trip you up, reducing your chances of getting great coverage and, even worse, increasing your chances of getting negative publicity. In this post, I’ll explain four types of tricky questions-speculative, leading, loaded and […]
Handling the Media Interview
If a reporter contacts you for an interview, you need to respond quickly or you may miss a great opportunity to promote your company or organization. Most reporters work on tight timelines so if you delay, they will probably interview someone else. That said, media interviews are tricky and not for the faint of heart. […]
Make Every Pitch Count
In the PR world, “pitching” refers to suggesting something to a reporter, editor or blogger. The suggestion could be a story idea, an interview, a product review or the like. A pitch can focus on generating immediate coverage or on longer-term ideas and opportunities. The immediate goal is to get to first base, to generate […]
“No Comment” and Other Dangerous Terms
Ever since Deep Throat, people have been fascinated by how the news media get information. Although you probably won’t be involved in toppling a president, you might have reason to consider whether you should say “no comment,” speak “off the record,” or offer some material exclusively. Unfortunately, these definitions are often misunderstood, both by the […]
It’s a Disaster! Crisis Communications (Part 2)
Somehow I got my sequence off, and posted sections 3 and 4 before this second section. Apologies. Here it is. In my previous post, I discussed the Malaysian Airlines crisis communications, and outlined two things you should do before a crisis: Inventory possible problems, and Identify the crisis communications team. Here is more advice on […]
