Press Release over phone

[evo801]

Hi All,

Has anyone ever spoke to the press regarding a press release over the phone into further detail?

Any pointers-have one tomorrow ha

Many thanks

[BigAlinEmbra]

Journalists are s. Avoid.

In my list they are ranked alongside politicians. People that can't do a real job yet like telling those that can how to do theirs better.

[StevieBee]

evo801 said:

Hi All,

Has anyone ever spoke to the press regarding a press release over the phone into further detail?

Any pointers-have one tomorrow ha

Many thanks

Do this very regularly.

Depends on the angle and theme but common pointers:

• Write down the three questions you really don't want to be asked and come up with an answer for them in advance.

• Never give an opinion. Just the facts.

• Answer questions in such a way that do not allow them to lead into other areas (as a blatant example..."Have you ever been to Amsterdam?" "No, but I've been to Thailand"... Finish on "No")

• If you need to think about a question - tell them, think about it then give an answer. Don't wing it.

• Remember that the interview starts when the phone call starts so don't think that small talk doesn't count.

• If you can, record the interview but tell them you are doing this (just for your files or for training, etc)

• Write a list of key points you want to get across and tick them off as you do.

[StevieBee]

BigAlinEmbra said:

Journalists are s. Avoid.

In my list they are ranked alongside politicians. People that can't do a real job yet like telling those that can how to do theirs better.

Bit of a sweeping statement that!

As in all walks of life, there are good and bad. I’ve been on the receiving end of the bad more than once (I was asked a while back by one journo' what my views were on tipping bin men. My answer was that there was nothing wrong with it. Unbeknown to me, villagers in a certain area were paying binment to take away side (extra bin bags) waste, which, in my book, is bribery, not tipping. The article made me appear to condone the action. NOTE TO OP: Additional pointer: Understand the context of the question!)

On the whole, journalists do provide a balanced coverage and at certain levels, keep the ruling class in check – Watergate being a good example of this.

Pistonhead journalists; feel free to add your views!

[BigAlinEmbra]

StevieBee said:

BigAlinEmbra said:

Journalists are s. Avoid.

In my list they are ranked alongside politicians. People that can't do a real job yet like telling those that can how to do theirs better.

Watergate

Journalists writing about politicians...

[evo801]

I have leveraged as I have appointed to cover a big story with a certain 'lesser' paper (the town paper) as opposed to big press guns.

Thank you all for the comments and will let you all know how it goes.

Best Regards