Public information officers for government agencies and nonprofits are often the first people the media contact when disaster strikes. Even though many have formal training on how to respond, PIOs representing numerous agencies in the same community sometimes never meet each other. When there’s a major disaster, the PIOs are on their own. Misinformation can… Read More
How to Interview
Prep your CEO for TV interviews
PR Week offers some great tips on how to prepare your CEO for TV interviews. Most of these items are useful for print and radio, too. They’re courtesty of Jerry Doyle, EVP at CommCore Consulting Group. 1. How well does he know the subject matter for the interview? It is perfectly reasonable to expect that… Read More
How to avoid being misquoted in media interviews
The next time you think a reporter misquoted you, ask yourself if you were indeed misquoted. Or did you say something dumb to the reporter that found its way into print? And now you regret it? Jill Henry, a contributing writer at the Springfield Business Journal in Springfield, Missouri, wrote to me about how sources… Read More
How to clinch radio interviews
Alex Carroll says that if you want to get onto radio talk shows, the host or producer probably won’t book you for an interview unless you can do one of these 6 things: –Tell listeners how to save time or money –Give them information that will make them rich –Tell an amazing story –Make them… Read More
Don’t be a bodyguard
If you do PR for your company or organization, one of the best things you can do to get in the media’s good graces is to encourage media people to contact your CEO or other sources directly, without demanding that they go through you. Also, don’t act like a bodyguard, shielding Mr. or Ms. Important… Read More
Don’t fall for this trick
It’s an old reporter’s trick–one of the best in the book. The cops use it too. So does one of my doctors. It’s called silence. And it’s designed to make you talk about something you don’t want to talk about. Beware of it the next time a reporter is interviewing you, either on the telephone… Read More
Talk badly about your competitors
Too many Publicity Hounds are much too nice when introducing a new product or service that’s heads above the one offered by the competition. Afraid of stepping on toes, they issue a bland news release with glowing quotes from the CEO about the wonders of the new offering. But never once do they mention what… Read More
Beware of the confidante
File this under the category of tricks reporters use to loosen your lips. I’m speaking specifically about the reporter who acts like a confidante–a trusted friend who is standing by ready to hear about your problems, and then commiserate. Here are phrases they might use: "Don’t you think it’s terrible that…" "I don’t think it’s… Read More