Here’s a cheat sheet that I like to give to clients after a media training course. It’s an easy and helpful reminder of how to deal with the media.
DO
- Be aware of the reporter’s audience.
- Be friendly and polite.
- Be honest.
- Be helpful.
- Be patient. Good media relations take time and effort.
- Be accurate. Every name, fact and figure must be right.
- Remember, a reporter works for his employer, not yours.
- Be prompt.
- Be fair.
- Be thorough.
DON’T
- Use jargon.
- Lie. Ever.
- Say no comment.
- Lose your temper.
- Expect miracles.
- Demand.
- Assume you have any control over the editorial content of a story.
- Exaggerate the importance of your news.
- Blame a reporter for his company’s policies.
- Give up.
Can you think of anything that you’d add to this list?
