It’s Easy When You Know the Answers

There’s an old saying among trial lawyers: “Never ask a question (of a witness) to which you don’t already know the answer.” On the other hand, no one should face the court of public opinion via the media or audiences in person, without first asking and answering for yourself the obvious questions. Case, in point, Jeb Bush, presumptive Republican presidential …

Don’t Deflate Your Defense

In crisis media coaching as on the football field, the best defense is a good offense. Defending their team’s actions, however, the New England Patriots chose an unusual offense.  This most recent case, dubbed ‘deflate-gate’ involves star quarterback Tom Brady whom the NFL has accused, along with two locker-room personnel, of intentionally deflating the game ball to gain a competitive …

Consistent Messaging Not a Slam Dunk

Consistent messaging is one of READY FOR MEDIA’s 12 C’s of communication, and one of the most important. If you cannot effectively communicate with members of your own team, how can you expect to communicate with the public? In a recent playoff game, the Cleveland Cavaliers undermined their own emphasis against domestic violence with a video broadcast depicting a woman …

Twitter: The 140-Character Soundbite

Social media has become every publicist’s nightmare. Rather than carefully formulating and crafting media responses through interviews, phone calls and media training, it is now possible for a moment of lapsed judgment to spiral into a media faux pas. Actor Alec Baldwin is the most recent example of this growing trend with a tweet from his car in New York …

When it’s Wrong to be Right

The best intentions can still backfire in the media game. In an attempt to address the issue of race relations, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz faced an immediate and intense social media backlash to his  “Race Together” campaign. “Our objective from the very start — dating back to our first open forum in Seattle last December — was to stimulate conversation, …

“Token Fluzzies” Unite

Communication and presentation skills combined with appropriate branding can create the message desired, but not always the message received. The right message delivered by the wrong person is damaging and can both offend and distract from the issue or position. The qualities of a media spokesperson must include charisma, relevance, credibility and above all, one who is appropriate and WANTED …

Fact or Fiction

Whether you have decades of media experience or are just starting out, honesty and integrity are key. With the Internet looming overhead, any misstated facts or exaggerated truths may be discovered and broadcast. TV veteran news anchor, Brian Williams learned this lesson after an apparent attempt to be part of the story, rather than simply reporting it. Williams was outed …

Politically Incorrect

Scolding and shushing an interviewer is not the way to win the media game. Media coverage is a privilege and responsibility granted to those worthy of public interest. It requires effective communication, presentation skills and media training. Here, the Republican Junior Senator from Kentucky, Dr. Rand Paul, proved himself less than worthy. The potential 2016 presidential candidate patronized, accused, demeaned …