Embracing The Media
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Transcript of Embracing The Media
Embracing The Media
Provide wing commanders with an orientation Provide wing commanders with an orientation and perspective on how the media think and and perspective on how the media think and workwork
The public as the end-recipient of informationThe public as the end-recipient of information
Provide techniques for responding to the Provide techniques for responding to the mediamedia before, during, and after a crisisbefore, during, and after a crisis
FocusFocus
Communication Before, During, & After a Crisis
There are steps CAP Wing Commanders and There are steps CAP Wing Commanders and PAOs can take to better prepare the news mediaPAOs can take to better prepare the news media during a crisisduring a crisis
Plan for communicating to the public and the Plan for communicating to the public and the news media by asking yourself the following news media by asking yourself the following questions:questions:
Questions To Ask Yourself
What information is crucial?What information is crucial?
What are the messages to be delivered?What are the messages to be delivered?
What are the obstacles?What are the obstacles?
What are the opportunities?What are the opportunities?
What questions can you anticipate?What questions can you anticipate?
What are the media’s responsibilities and What are the media’s responsibilities and how can we help reporters meet them?how can we help reporters meet them?
First Do No Harm
Always assess the environment into which you Always assess the environment into which you are introducing informationare introducing information
Review your remarks in advanceReview your remarks in advance
Understand your audienceUnderstand your audience
Don’t speak unless you are comfortableDon’t speak unless you are comfortable
Don’t assume you’re not in need of helpDon’t assume you’re not in need of help
Watch, read and listen to the newsWatch, read and listen to the news
Developing goals and key messages
ExampleExample: : CAP plane has crashed while CAP plane has crashed while transporting sensitive materials for NASAtransporting sensitive materials for NASA
Goal # 1: Ease public concernGoal # 1: Ease public concern
- The risk is low - The search is hopefulThe risk is low - The search is hopeful
- We are closing in - The teams are highly trainedWe are closing in - The teams are highly trained
Goal # 2 : Give guidance on how to respondGoal # 2 : Give guidance on how to respond
- Take these precautions - Possible areas to searchTake these precautions - Possible areas to search
- If you find the site ... If you find the site ...
State message at the outset and return to it as State message at the outset and return to it as often as possibleoften as possible
Staying on messageStaying on message
- I want to first begin by saying ...
- As I said a moment ago ...
- I want to again stress ...
- Before I close, I would like to remind everyone …
Exercise control over the conversation you are Exercise control over the conversation you are havinghaving
Delivering Information
Hold briefings at times which will enable the Hold briefings at times which will enable the media to meet their deadlinesmedia to meet their deadlines
Be prepared to explain information and Be prepared to explain information and how it was gatheredhow it was gathered
Provide statistics and key information Provide statistics and key information (CAP fact sheets)(CAP fact sheets)
Again, be prepared to explain information Again, be prepared to explain information and how it was gatheredand how it was gathered
Myths & Pitfalls
Risk communication is more likely to alarmRisk communication is more likely to alarm
Risk communication is less important than Risk communication is less important than educationeducation
Too difficult for public to understandToo difficult for public to understand
If we listen to public, we may divert If we listen to public, we may divert resources to areas not part of our missionresources to areas not part of our mission
Communication is not my jobCommunication is not my job
Earning Trust & Credibility
Accept and involve the public as a partnerAccept and involve the public as a partner
Appreciate the public’s specific concernsAppreciate the public’s specific concerns
Be honest and openBe honest and open
Work with credible sourcesWork with credible sources
Meet the needs of the mediaMeet the needs of the media
Building Support
Having people on hand who can answer Having people on hand who can answer questions speeds up the processquestions speeds up the process
Make sure goals and messages are understood Make sure goals and messages are understood by participantsby participants
Do not publicly contradict the statement Do not publicly contradict the statement or disagree with the spokespersonor disagree with the spokesperson
Avoiding Pitfalls
AbstractionsAbstractions
AttacksAttacks
Attitude and nonverbal messagesAttitude and nonverbal messages
BlameBlame
CostsCosts
Avoiding Pitfalls
GuaranteesGuarantees
HumorHumor
JargonJargon
Length of presentationLength of presentation
Negative allegations, words or phrasesNegative allegations, words or phrases
““Off the record”Off the record”
PromisesPromises
Managing Hostile Situations
Acknowledge existence of hostilityAcknowledge existence of hostility
Practice self-management and controlPractice self-management and control
Be prepared and listenBe prepared and listen
Answer questions thoughtfullyAnswer questions thoughtfully
Facts & Information
Be sure of your factsBe sure of your facts
Cite sources and key statisticsCite sources and key statistics
Have information available on fact sheetsHave information available on fact sheets
Familiarize yourself with information and Familiarize yourself with information and opinions contrary to yoursopinions contrary to yours
Working With Reporters
Put yourself in the reporter’s placePut yourself in the reporter’s place
Be courteous and patientBe courteous and patient
If you tell a reporter you’ll get back to them, If you tell a reporter you’ll get back to them,
do itdo it
Never be too casual in your conversationNever be too casual in your conversation
Working With PAOs
PAOs are one of the most important team PAOs are one of the most important team membersmembers
Should have an established relationship with Should have an established relationship with media before a crisis occursmedia before a crisis occurs
Keep PAO informed from the very beginningKeep PAO informed from the very beginning
PAOs should always be looking for ways to PAOs should always be looking for ways to localize national newslocalize national news
Tools For PAOs
PAO ToolkitPAO Toolkit
Multimedia section (Videos)Multimedia section (Videos)
CAP News OnlineCAP News Online
Seminars at national eventsSeminars at national events
National press releasesNational press releases
Printed materialsPrinted materials
Using The Interview
Listen to question and think about your answerListen to question and think about your answer
Discuss what you know, not what you thinkDiscuss what you know, not what you think
Do not express personal opinionDo not express personal opinion
Don’t speculateDon’t speculate
Don’t show offDon’t show off
Don’t engage in “off the record” discussionsDon’t engage in “off the record” discussions
Rules of the Road
Don’t lie to a reporterDon’t lie to a reporter
Never embarrass a reporterNever embarrass a reporter
Do not argue with a reporterDo not argue with a reporter
Never take it personallyNever take it personally
Planning & Preparation
Form a risk-communication teamForm a risk-communication team
Create a team leader and assign responsibilitiesCreate a team leader and assign responsibilities
Develop contact listDevelop contact list
Develop a media listDevelop a media list
Consider logisticsConsider logistics
Identify information needs and create fact sheetIdentify information needs and create fact sheet
10 Ways to Avoid Mistakes
First, do no harm ...First, do no harm ...
Don’t babbleDon’t babble
If you don’t know what you’re talking about, If you don’t know what you’re talking about, stop talkingstop talking
Focus on informingFocus on informing
Never say anything your’re not willing to see Never say anything your’re not willing to see printedprinted
Don’t lieDon’t lie
10 Ways to Avoid Mistakes
Don’t make promises you can’t keepDon’t make promises you can’t keep
Do not use “no comment”Do not use “no comment”
Don’t get angryDon’t get angry
Don’t speculate, guess or assumeDon’t speculate, guess or assume
Contact Information
Marc HuchetteMarc Huchette
Chief of MultimediaChief of Multimedia
(334) 953-3758(334) 953-3758
[email protected]@capnhq.gov