Just when I was ready to talk about Don Imus, Alberto Gonzales and more... the nation's worst school shooting occurs.
These events sadden us, numb us, cripple us and shake up our routines. Some media coaches will tell you it's a matter of when, not if, an act ofviolence will occur at your school or workplace.
Today on "Mornings with Lorri & Friends," one of our guests was Al Meredith, Pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Al had just returned from burying his mother in 1999 when a gunmen entered the foyer of the church and began shooting. A short time later, eight were dead, including the shooter, and seven more were injured. Pastor Meredith has since been regarded as a resource to the news media because, instinctively, he did everything right in a crisis. He made himself available to the media at any hour requested. He spoke in colorful soundbites. He is an intelligent, articulate preacher and that came across in his replies.
Today he gave advice to those in Virgnia regarding the media. He said, "You can't avoid the media. They are there to do a job. They're not the enemy."
In light of this crisis, it's great to remind you to have a MEDIA CRISIS PLAN.
Also, be ready to address basic questions:
1. What happened? (Reporters know or they wouldn't be there, but they want to hear it in your words)
2. Where did security go wrong? Could this have been prevented?
3. How bad is the situation?
4. What's happening now?
5. What happens next?
6. How are you going to prevent this situation from happening again?
7. What are you going to do for victims and/or their families?
None of us wants a crisis to happen. But when one does, you will not regret time spent in preparation, drills and discussion.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Soundbite Mentality
I've been hearing the word "soundbite" and the phrase "soundbite mentality" used disparagingly. For instance, "That's not thorough. It's just a soundbite." Or, "We really need to get past the soundbite mentality and dig deep into this issue."
As The Soundbite Coach, I'm gritting my teeth and not taking the comments personally.
I agree that there are many issues we all need to go deep on. So many stories need background, sidebars and follow-up. But in our time-starved, information overloaded society, we also need soundbites. They are not a luxury; they are crucial to survival.
Soundbites give us the quick read we need to make a decisions. And that decision may be to get more information.
Soundbites--not in the news sense--but in the real-live sense are used every day.
If you haven't read the book, get it. You'll have new respect for soundbites.
And in the news sense, when you can't speak in soundbites, and the editor chops 29 seconds out of your 34-second response, and you look silly on the newscast, call me. I can help.
As The Soundbite Coach, I'm gritting my teeth and not taking the comments personally.
I agree that there are many issues we all need to go deep on. So many stories need background, sidebars and follow-up. But in our time-starved, information overloaded society, we also need soundbites. They are not a luxury; they are crucial to survival.
Soundbites give us the quick read we need to make a decisions. And that decision may be to get more information.
Soundbites--not in the news sense--but in the real-live sense are used every day.
- Help me!
- That guy's about to run into you!
- Please stop shouting-I have a migraine.
- The stock's tanked. What are we going to do?
Soundbites used as taglines or slogans build morale. Soundbites used in crisis communicate quickly--just watch "ER." Soundbites in war save lives.
If you've read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, you know that even a seven-second soundbite is an eternity compared to the rapid rate our subconscious is taking in information.If you haven't read the book, get it. You'll have new respect for soundbites.
And in the news sense, when you can't speak in soundbites, and the editor chops 29 seconds out of your 34-second response, and you look silly on the newscast, call me. I can help.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Maybe I Was Wrong
Friday morning, on the radio show that I co-host, I shared the opinion that John Edwards should have pulled out of the 2008 presidential race after learning that his wife's cancer had returned. Take care of her now and run later, I said. He's still a young man at 53, and he's not even leading in the Democratic polls this time around.
My opinion was based on life experience. Five years ago, a co-worker's wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her spine, after she'd been treated for breast cancer a few years earlier. She died about 18 months later.
But after getting more information about the Edwards' decision, I am less judgemental. Oh, I'm still concerned about the younger Edwards children. But after watching the "60 Minutes" interview, I like the spin the John and Elizabeth are taking. It's an "embrace life" attitude, and it's inspiring. Thousands of cancer survivors are resonating with Elizabeth's position. One fact that swayed my opinion is that people are living longer with incurable cancer.
Will sympathy help the Edwards campaign? It may be soon to tell. As a soundbite coach, I applaud John's statement to Katie Couric: "There's not a single person in America that should vote for me because Elizabeth has cancer. Not a one. If you're considering doing it, don't do it. Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake. The vote for the presidency is far too important for any of those things to influence it."
One pundit says this experience will help John Edwards humanize his campaign. For instance, when Edwards talks about healthcare, voters will know he's experienced the system.
Another plus of this announcement has been all the nice things the other candidates have said. They're wishing Elizabeth well. Even Tony Snow, the White House spokesperson, whose cancer has returned, said Mrs. Edwards is setting a wonderful example of how to live with cancer.
My mind is not made up on this issue. I still think if I had the diagnosis Elizabeth does, I'd want to spend my last days laughing on a beach, not working for votes, traveling in a bus.
Even Katie Couric said that's not how she'd choose to spend her finite time.
And John reminded her that we're all different and none of us is promised any time... as he found out when his 16-year-old son died.
Here's what my mind is made up on... if I were his media coach, I'd be proud of John Edwards.
My opinion was based on life experience. Five years ago, a co-worker's wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her spine, after she'd been treated for breast cancer a few years earlier. She died about 18 months later.
But after getting more information about the Edwards' decision, I am less judgemental. Oh, I'm still concerned about the younger Edwards children. But after watching the "60 Minutes" interview, I like the spin the John and Elizabeth are taking. It's an "embrace life" attitude, and it's inspiring. Thousands of cancer survivors are resonating with Elizabeth's position. One fact that swayed my opinion is that people are living longer with incurable cancer.
Will sympathy help the Edwards campaign? It may be soon to tell. As a soundbite coach, I applaud John's statement to Katie Couric: "There's not a single person in America that should vote for me because Elizabeth has cancer. Not a one. If you're considering doing it, don't do it. Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake. The vote for the presidency is far too important for any of those things to influence it."
One pundit says this experience will help John Edwards humanize his campaign. For instance, when Edwards talks about healthcare, voters will know he's experienced the system.
Another plus of this announcement has been all the nice things the other candidates have said. They're wishing Elizabeth well. Even Tony Snow, the White House spokesperson, whose cancer has returned, said Mrs. Edwards is setting a wonderful example of how to live with cancer.
My mind is not made up on this issue. I still think if I had the diagnosis Elizabeth does, I'd want to spend my last days laughing on a beach, not working for votes, traveling in a bus.
Even Katie Couric said that's not how she'd choose to spend her finite time.
And John reminded her that we're all different and none of us is promised any time... as he found out when his 16-year-old son died.
Here's what my mind is made up on... if I were his media coach, I'd be proud of John Edwards.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Smart Idea
My friend Peggy Collins has a new book out. It's titled, Help Is NOT a Four-Letter Word. Peggy knows she needs to pull out all stops to get publicity so that the books will sell. The initial days and weeks are important for bookstore orders, reprints, etc.
Peggy is lining up newspaper, magazine, radio and TV interviews. Because she had done few television interviews, she didn't want to be intimidated by the lights and equipment. So she called one of the stations nearest her home in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Peggy told the person she talked with about her upcoming interview in Dallas and wondered if she could have a tour of the station and see the news desk. The employee was gracious and invited Peggy out immediately. Shortly after the tour, the station asked Peggy to come back for an interview about her book.
That wasn't Peggy's intention when she asked for the tour, but she was happy to publicize the book in her own market.
One of the reasons Peggy was able to get a station tour is that she lives in a smaller media market. In the nation's top 25 markets, you usually have to know someone who works at the station--or be part of a larger civic group--to get a tour. I'm sure another reason she got the tour is that she knows how to ask for help--something covered in her book.
But getting a tour is no guarantee that guides will ask about your book, or if they do, have the decision-making power to schedule you for an on-air interview. At the worst, you'll have spent time getting more familiar with your local station. At best, you get publicity.
If you're reluctant to call and ask for a tour, then buy Peggy's book!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Interview with Jim Comer, Author and Speaker
After his father suffered a massive stroke and his mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Jim Comer found himself an "overnight parent" at the age of 51. Though everyone looked to him as the “man who knew all the answers,” he soon realized that he didn’t even know the questions. In eleven years of caregiving, Jim has lived the questions and learned the answers. He’s learned to deal with hospitals, insurance companies, rehab centers, nursing homes, his father’s deafness and his mother’s dementia. Through it all, Jim has kept his sense of humor and forged a deeper, more intimate relationship with his parents.
His book, When Roles Reverse: A Guide to Parenting Your Parents, is terrific! It was published nationally in the fall of 2006 by Hampton Roads and is available in bookstores and on line. His website is http://www.whenrolesreverse.com/. Jim has been getting lots of publicity, so we asked him to share a bit about his experiences with the media.
LA: Jim, has news coverage been hard to get for your new book?
JC: No, because this subject is on everyone’s mind right now. It is growing in importance every day as more and more baby boomers reach the age where they are caring for their parents, or getting ready to do so, and also thinking about their own retirement needs.
I believe this subject will be extremely newsworthy for the next decade and beyond.
LA: Your book is so needed in our society today. Are reporters and talk show hosts focusing on the trend of care giving… or more on your personal stories?
JC: NBC Nightly News did a two-week daily segment on The Aging of America and got the largest email response in the history of the show. It is an ideal subject for talk show hosts, both TV and radio. It could also have a program all its own, on radio, TV, or public access, and I’m thinking of moving in that direction.
LA: What have you learned about dealing with the media as you’ve launched the book?
JC: I’ve learned that the media is as hungry for good stories as writers are hungry to tell their story. If your material is timely and fresh, and you really know your subject, you can get interviews in the press and radio. TV morning shows will give you about three minutes. The hard part is getting on national TV because there is so much competition and so many gatekeepers to get through. That’s why an “end run” might be most effective.
LA: Clarify what you mean by "end run."
JC: An end run in football is when a ball carrier does not go up the middle through the line, but out to the side (an end run). What I mean is that tackling the big name talk shows through their official channels may not work unless you have a powerful name representing you. You need to find someone who has access to the star even if the person has no official position. I don’t care how Oprah gets the book as long as she gets it. I’d love to know her manicurist and get the book to her. If she loved it, then Oprah would hear about it and might take a look. That’s an end run.
LA: You have been wanting to be interviewed on the Oprah show for a while. How’s that going?
JC: I have Oprah’s picture in a frame on my desk. I met a man who claimed to know her father, but it turns out that he only knew a friend of the father and has not volunteered to send him the book. I need to find a way to get the book to Oprah, probably an unconventional solution, and may have a focus group just on that one subject.
LA: You’re good at seeing the funny side of life. What is the wackiest question a reporter has asked you?
JC: No one has asked me a wacky question that I can remember, probably because of the nature of my subject, but I use lots of humor in my book, speech and interviews. The question I find most interesting (and a little odd) is “Do you feel anger or resentment because you’ve had to give up so much in order to parent your parents?” The answer is a resounding “NO.” I couldn’t do this if I was angry and resentful though I’m sure there are children of aging parents who live with anger and resentment. I’ve been fortunate because I really like my parents, have excellent facilities where they have lived and the full support of my cousins.
LA: What else would you like to add?
JC: I feel that promoting my book is a long-term project. It’s an “evergreen” and will be just as important – or more so – in ten years as it is today. I’ve had surprisingly strong support from my publisher, and now it’s time for me to make publicity and paid speeches the number one priority in my business life.
If I can give enough speeches, interviews and get some national TV and corporate sales, I think the book will take off….and allow me to “do well by doing good.” The absolute best part of having written the book is when I get an email, letter or have a personal conversation in which someone tells me how much the book has meant to them and their family and how it helped them make decisions and get out of denial.
LA: Jim, I'll tell you how much the book has meant to me. It made me laugh--and cry--out loud. I bought copies for my friends with aging parents and for my parents. Aging and caregiving can be ugly, tough subjects and you handle them beautifully.
Jim is eager to hear from anyone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Oprah, Ellen, Dr. Phil, Rosie O’Donnell, Barbara Walters, John Stewart, Charles Osgood or the folks at NPR. If you can help, please go to his website to find out how to contact him by phone or email.
His book, When Roles Reverse: A Guide to Parenting Your Parents, is terrific! It was published nationally in the fall of 2006 by Hampton Roads and is available in bookstores and on line. His website is http://www.whenrolesreverse.com/. Jim has been getting lots of publicity, so we asked him to share a bit about his experiences with the media.
LA: Jim, has news coverage been hard to get for your new book?
JC: No, because this subject is on everyone’s mind right now. It is growing in importance every day as more and more baby boomers reach the age where they are caring for their parents, or getting ready to do so, and also thinking about their own retirement needs.
I believe this subject will be extremely newsworthy for the next decade and beyond.
LA: Your book is so needed in our society today. Are reporters and talk show hosts focusing on the trend of care giving… or more on your personal stories?
JC: NBC Nightly News did a two-week daily segment on The Aging of America and got the largest email response in the history of the show. It is an ideal subject for talk show hosts, both TV and radio. It could also have a program all its own, on radio, TV, or public access, and I’m thinking of moving in that direction.
LA: What have you learned about dealing with the media as you’ve launched the book?
JC: I’ve learned that the media is as hungry for good stories as writers are hungry to tell their story. If your material is timely and fresh, and you really know your subject, you can get interviews in the press and radio. TV morning shows will give you about three minutes. The hard part is getting on national TV because there is so much competition and so many gatekeepers to get through. That’s why an “end run” might be most effective.
LA: Clarify what you mean by "end run."
JC: An end run in football is when a ball carrier does not go up the middle through the line, but out to the side (an end run). What I mean is that tackling the big name talk shows through their official channels may not work unless you have a powerful name representing you. You need to find someone who has access to the star even if the person has no official position. I don’t care how Oprah gets the book as long as she gets it. I’d love to know her manicurist and get the book to her. If she loved it, then Oprah would hear about it and might take a look. That’s an end run.
LA: You have been wanting to be interviewed on the Oprah show for a while. How’s that going?
JC: I have Oprah’s picture in a frame on my desk. I met a man who claimed to know her father, but it turns out that he only knew a friend of the father and has not volunteered to send him the book. I need to find a way to get the book to Oprah, probably an unconventional solution, and may have a focus group just on that one subject.
LA: You’re good at seeing the funny side of life. What is the wackiest question a reporter has asked you?
JC: No one has asked me a wacky question that I can remember, probably because of the nature of my subject, but I use lots of humor in my book, speech and interviews. The question I find most interesting (and a little odd) is “Do you feel anger or resentment because you’ve had to give up so much in order to parent your parents?” The answer is a resounding “NO.” I couldn’t do this if I was angry and resentful though I’m sure there are children of aging parents who live with anger and resentment. I’ve been fortunate because I really like my parents, have excellent facilities where they have lived and the full support of my cousins.
LA: What else would you like to add?
JC: I feel that promoting my book is a long-term project. It’s an “evergreen” and will be just as important – or more so – in ten years as it is today. I’ve had surprisingly strong support from my publisher, and now it’s time for me to make publicity and paid speeches the number one priority in my business life.
If I can give enough speeches, interviews and get some national TV and corporate sales, I think the book will take off….and allow me to “do well by doing good.” The absolute best part of having written the book is when I get an email, letter or have a personal conversation in which someone tells me how much the book has meant to them and their family and how it helped them make decisions and get out of denial.
LA: Jim, I'll tell you how much the book has meant to me. It made me laugh--and cry--out loud. I bought copies for my friends with aging parents and for my parents. Aging and caregiving can be ugly, tough subjects and you handle them beautifully.
Jim is eager to hear from anyone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Oprah, Ellen, Dr. Phil, Rosie O’Donnell, Barbara Walters, John Stewart, Charles Osgood or the folks at NPR. If you can help, please go to his website to find out how to contact him by phone or email.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
News is Not Depressing
I cringe when someone tells me, "I never watch the news any more. It's just too depressing."
It may be a matter of semantics, but it's how the station presents the news that depresses you. The news itself informs you, keeps you current, warns you of hazards and provides conversational fodder--what a great deal!
Would you ever say to someone, "I never read any more. It's just too informative." No, you wouldn't want to sound ignorant.
But in defense of the people that are turned off or tuned out, when a TV or radio station presents too many bad news stories in a row, it can have a demoralizing effect. That's one reason journalists are now encouraged to create "trend" or "issues" stories. This means instead of just reporting murder after murder, crime after crime, the reporter analyzes the causes behind the higher death rate or looks at different solutions for preventing crime.
If you are not watching or listening news because it's too depressing, please try another channel before you quit on the medium. Many people have died to protect our First Amendement rights, so we need to cherish them. Another channel might present the news differently--in a less tabloid style, for instance, or you might find you like that weather forecaster who wears a bowtie!
It may be a matter of semantics, but it's how the station presents the news that depresses you. The news itself informs you, keeps you current, warns you of hazards and provides conversational fodder--what a great deal!
Would you ever say to someone, "I never read any more. It's just too informative." No, you wouldn't want to sound ignorant.
But in defense of the people that are turned off or tuned out, when a TV or radio station presents too many bad news stories in a row, it can have a demoralizing effect. That's one reason journalists are now encouraged to create "trend" or "issues" stories. This means instead of just reporting murder after murder, crime after crime, the reporter analyzes the causes behind the higher death rate or looks at different solutions for preventing crime.
If you are not watching or listening news because it's too depressing, please try another channel before you quit on the medium. Many people have died to protect our First Amendement rights, so we need to cherish them. Another channel might present the news differently--in a less tabloid style, for instance, or you might find you like that weather forecaster who wears a bowtie!
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