Media Relations Matters

Conveying message and personality

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:20:51 -0400

Sue and Eric discuss the importance of a spokesperson conveying both message and personality during presentations and broadcast interviews. The conversation begins as a result of Eric watching the leader of the Canadian Liberal Party during an election campaign stop in Newfoundland.

Interviewed by Shel Holz, ABC

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:18:31 -0400

Eric is interviewed by Shel Holz, ABC, in advance of speaking at the IABC Heritage Region conference in October 2008. The topic is "The Fallacy of Staying on Message."

Repeating the message over and over and over

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:14:27 -0400

Sue and Eric discuss a promotional piece they received for a media training session in New York. The advice for this training perspective is to repeat each key message three times for each question asked. Is this a reasonable and logical perspective? Sue and Eric certainly don't think so.

The Mehrabian Myth

Tue, 27 May 2008 16:19:06 -0400

Sue and Eric discuss body language during presentations and broadcast media interviews. They begin by discussing what is perhaps the most misquoted statistic in human history, which can be found on pages 43 and 44 of Albert Mehrabian's book, Silent Messages, which was published in the early 1970s. The 55-38-7 myth.

There are two goals that a presenter or spokesperson needs to achieve: convey a message; and convey his/her personality. Each of us achieves those two goals every day of our life in relaxed conversation. Sue & Eric's premise, therefore, is that relaxed conversation is a presenter or spokesperson's best style.

Bottom line? Teach your spokespeople to be themselves in a relaxed, natural way.

Mayor David Miller

Wed, 7 May 2008 12:19:03 -0400

In this episode, Eric and Sue discuss the media relations acumen of Toronto mayor David Miller, particularly during a recent strike by Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) workers.

They agree that Mayor Miller seems to do many things right. He focuses on evoking specific attitudes, opinions and behavior with his media relations activity. Everything he says supports the business. He answers questions clearly and concisely, not necessarily "bridging" in a formal sense, but seamlessly reaching specific audiences to make his points.