Say It Like You Mean It

Interviews with reporters and bloggers can be tricky propositions. On one hand, they provide free editorial coverage for your company and give you “expert” credibility. On the other, you have no control over the context in which your comments will be used. Worse, you might be misquoted altogether.

In a post at Daily Fix, blogger B.L. Ochman offers some pointers on how to handle the press. Keep these three tips in mind:

• You’re not obligated to give an interview. Feel free to ask a reporter about the premise of a story. If you’re not up to speed on the issue or don’t see value in your participation, simply say you’re probably not the best person to interview on the topic. (Under no circumstances should you use the phrase "no comment" to turn down an interview request—that might be the quote that gets used, and it sounds terrible.)
• Think before you respond. In the course of a conversation, it’s easy to say something you’d rather not see in print. Anything you write in an email is also fair game. The reporter’s job is to get a story, not to make you look good.
• Keep them honest. Though reporters won’t show you an article before publication, they might let you fact check the quotes they plan to use. It’s also acceptable to tape record your conversation so that you have a record of what was and wasn’t said.

The Po!nt: There is such a thing as bad publicity. So use your savvy to present your company in the most flattering and accurate light.

Follow the buzz on this topic at MarketingProfs Daily Fix. 

→ end article preview
Read the Full Article