Talking to Press Tips

[chrisscully]

So here's a go at a list we can compile for quick tips on talking to the press in regards to our action in Albany. I will be updating this with additional tips people add that seem to be useful. Let me know if anything sounds like a terrible idea and why!

1. Keep it short & sweet. If your comments couldn't fit on a handwritten cardboard sign, there's probably a clearer more concise way to phrase it. The simpler the statements, the less your words can be spun.
2. Imagine you're reading what is being said, and try to keep from saying things that would sound terrible out of context.
3. Be brave, you're out there for a reason, and so is everyone around you. The press can be a great tool to impact the rest of our population that hasn't activated themselves yet.
4. Respect your message, respect your audience. Although you may be having a great time, we're not clowning around. Seriousness must be conveyed in our messages to the press. This is an occupation, not a picnic.
5. Try not to speak for the movement, but speak for yourself. In this way if you say something different then the next person they interview it doesn't seem like "we don't know what we're talking about." If you are directly asked to speak for the movement, speak only of the facts, that we're a group of people standing together to make our voices heard and create real lasting change, etc.

Please feel free to offer more tips!

[theancientflack]

These are good, thank you for posting. The only thing I'd add is that everyone who's attending should give a little bit of thought to whether or not they want to speak to the media -- you don't HAVE to if you don't want to! -- and if you decide you're willing, spend a few minutes right now thinking about what you'd like to say and how you can match it to the tips above.

You don't need to memorize anything word for word -- you don't want to sound robotic, or answer a question that the reporter didn't actually ask. You'll just be much less nervous and more coherent and clear if you have some ideas about you want to say and how you want to say it before the camera is turned on or the pen starts scratching.

[hz]

Great start!

I would also add, that even if you do want to talk to the press, you may not want to answer every question. Don't feel you have to, simply re-translate the question into something you feel comfortable talking about.

For example not everyone will want to publicly declare whether they are, or are not, willing to get arrested. You can simply say you value your rights to free speech, or that you hope that events will not come to that choice etc...

[Caroline]

Excellent tips.

One other tip - If you don't understand a reporter's question, don't be afraid to ask them to repeat or rephrase it. I used to be a reporter and I can tell you that they won't mind.

Also, if an interviewer appears to NOT be asking a question, but rather trying to put words in your mouth, you can say, "I'm sorry, what was the question?"

[madskeptic]

Having spent some time interviewing people as part of my job, I would also like to advise people about leading questions (I was trained no not use them). These are questions like "Do you believe so and so is a child molester or just a child abuser?" As you see, the intent of the question is to portray "so and so" as a bad person. Push-polling uses this technique.

Yes, this might be a touch extreme but it does illustrate the point. If a reporter wants interviews which fit into a preconceived narrative they will be using these types of questions.

My advice to anyone who is presented with just such a question is to either call them out on it (i.e. "I'm sorry but that's a leading question") and then insert your narative (i.e. "I'm sorry but that's a leading question. I'm here to say....") or to not speak to the reporter. When in doubt, remember you don't have to talk to anyone. If you have a sign, you could just point to it and say "here's my message".