Cameron Comments on Communications

"I NEVER SAID THAT !!" - How To Avoid Being Misquoted

2012-01-27T16:51:00.000-05:00

(Article reading time: 2 minutes)

by Jim Cameron / Cameron Communications

Hardly a week goes by that a media training client doesn’ttell me they’ve been previously misquoted in an interview. But first, let’s understand what a “quote” reallyis.

Some reporters think of a quote as a verbatim transcriptionof your words. To others it’s just an accurate paraphrase. But some reporters will clean up grammar ortake things out of context. The firsttwo “definitions” are, in my view, fair. The last two are not.

Here are some tips on avoiding misquotes:

DECIDE ON YOUR QUOTES IN ADVANCE: Craft your messages in sound bites, practicethem out loud but deliver them conversationally.

SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU WANT TO BE QUOTED: Most reporters take notes on the fly, eitherwith pen and paper or by keyboard if you’re on the phone. You can talk faster than they can write, soslow down when you want them to accurately write down your words.

STAY “ON THE RECORD”: Not all reporters agree on what “off therecord” means, so don’t go there. Stayon message and that’s all a reporter will have to choose from when picking aquote.

ASK FOR A READ-BACK: At the end of an interview, ask the reporterto read back to you any verbatim quotes they may have taken. If they don’t sound right, this is your lastchance to correct them before publication.

TAPE YOUR INTERVIEWS: Using a pocket-recorder to record your endof a phone call will give you a record of what you really said. If your interview is face to face, show thereporter you’re taping it (blame your lawyers) but don’t imply you don’t trust thereporter. When reporters know you have arecording of what you said, they’ll be ultra-careful in quoting you.

IF YOU’RE STILL MISQUOTED, COMPLAIN: Point out to the reporter that you think youwere misquoted. If they disagree, makeyour case to their editor. Keep a civiltone, but ask if the reporter can’t accurately a simple quote, doesn’t that raisereader questions about the accuracy of everything else.

Followthese simple tips and you’ll greatly reduce your chances of being misquoted!

"PRACTICE MAKES... BETTER"

2012-01-27T16:42:00.000-05:00

(Article readingtime: 2 minutes)

by Amy Fond / Cameron Communications

Mytwo-year-old takes ballet. She dresses up in a tutu once a week and basicallystares at herself in the mirror for the whole class. But the other night Icaught her standing in front of her mirror doing her “moves”. When I asked herwhat she was doing she said, "Practicing." It wasn't really hard forher to make room in her busy day to practice pirouettes - but it got methinking how, as adults, it's hard to find the time to practicethings...anything. When we were younger we practiced all the time. We caughtfly balls for hours and parallel parked in an empty parking lot again andagain. But somehow as adults, we never have the time to practice. It's oneof the most important lessons I include in every training I do. If you don'tpractice, you won't get better. Simple to say and yet, in reality, hard todo.

SoI've been pleasantly surprised to hear stories from people I've trainedabout how they practice their communication skills in very simple ways. Littlethings they do throughout their day, week or month that help them become bettercommunicators and presenters.

IMPROVING EYECONTACT One analyst at a major bank shared that during phone conversations hestares at a small sculpture he has on a bookshelf, at eye level, across theroom from him. He uses the sculpture to help him practice for when he doesremote interviews and he's required to stare into the camera lens the wholetime. During a remote interview - it's just you and the camera. You hearthe reporter in your ear through an ear piece. No human contact at all. If youlook away from the camera during the interview you may come across as nervousor unsure. So every time this analyst takes a call, he practices his eyecontact and practices talking to the camera while listening to the reporter inhis ear.

BETTER BRIDGING An executiveat a national nonprofit told me she wanted to get better at “bridging” - atechnique we went over to help work her way out of tough questions bytransitioning or “bridging” from one topic to the next. So the executivedecided to practice her skills with her teenage daughter. She picked a fewparental messages - "clean your room" and "wear yourseatbelt" - and she'd try to work one at a time into the conversation asoften as possible. Her daughter would bring up a topic - and her mom would tryto bridge to "clean your room." The executive said she knew she hadgotten better when she was able to bridge from clothes to curfews.

GESTURING Anotherexecutive at a large healthcare company told me she uses her weekly briefingswith her staff to practice her gesturing. She used to do the briefings by phoneso everyone could stay at their desks, but she decided to move the meetings toher office. She now has a small audience every Monday to practice herpresentation skills. Sometimes she sits and sometimes she stands, but she saysshe's always thinking about her body language and how she's using her gesturesto highlight her points.

FINDING YOUR VOICE A vice presidentat a PR agency told me that he practices his delivery is by leaving messagesfor himself on his home voice mail. It was already a habit he had. If he had toremember something, he'd call home and remind himself. So he decided to use hismessages as ways to practice his tone and inflection. Instead of leaving quicknotes for himself he spoke longer and was more conscious of his voice, tone andspeed of delivery.

Theysay practice makes perfect. But often, practice just makes better. Andre Agassionce said that he got to the top of his field in tennis by hitting over athousand balls a day. But who has the time? Instead, work in little wayseach week to amp up your skills - you'll be surprised how much small steps can makeyou a better communicator.

NEGOTIATING THE SCOPE OF AN INTERVIEW

2011-09-07T15:13:00.003-05:00

by Amy Fond / Cameron Communications Inc

The Clip below maybe great TV – but it’s also a great lesson on just how important media trainingcan be – especially if there are questions you don’t want to answer.

Christine O'Donnell

Click here to watch

It’s a lesson former U.S. Senate candidateChristine O’Donnell learned the hard way when her interview with Piers Morganon CNN’s ‘Piers Morgan Tonight’ went from benign to belligerent, and ended withthe Tea Party leader walking off the set mid-interview.

O’Donnell, a guest on the show to promote her newnon-fiction book “Trouble Maker”, apparently didn’t want to talk about herviews on abstinence and gay marriage. But seems that’s the only thing Morgan wanted to ask.

When pressed the first time on abstinence, shedeflects with a laugh, the second time withmore bite, sniping, "Let’s not even gothere.” Then when asked her views on gay marriage O'Donnell repeats, “I’m here totalk about my book.” Morgan, who’s blatantly amused, then cites these aretopics in her book andare therefore fair game. O’Donnell tries to deflect prompting Morgan to ask the cringing question, “Why are you being so weird?”

Sufficeit to say she was backed into a tough corner with a tenacious reporter breathingdown her neck. Her problems, though,began before the interview evenstarted. When you agree to do an interview with a journalist– you agree on a basic topic to be the focus.

O’Donnell agreed to talk aboutand promote her book – so she should have been prepared fortough questions concerning what she writes about. Morgan’s correct – if it’s inthe book, it’s atopic on the table.

Later O'Donnell called Morgan’squestions “creepy” and said she never envisioned things ending the way it did.But she should have. If O'Donnell wantedto stick solely toher topics, than she should have done an infomercial, not an interview.

But there's another lesson as well: – not all interviews are worthdoing! If you feel the host is a wrong fit, or that you or your company may bepainted poorly, then don’t do the interview. Would this have played out thesame way if O’Donnell had appeared on Fox News Channel? Maybe not.

After Piers Morgan invited Christine O’Donnell tocome back the next night,

the politician declined in atweet calling him “a cheeky bugger.” Once her episode aired, CNN had a bettername for Morgan - “Ratings King.”

"Making up the news instead of reporting it"

2011-07-04T15:22:00.000-05:00

I don’t usually rely on Entertainment TV’s “The Soup” for media commentary. Usually, watching this show’s compilation of clips from what passes for “reality TV” just leaves me shaking my head in disgust. But this week they extended their domain into some legitimate media criticism, taking on “Newsweek”.

It seems that the latest issue featured a story about what Lady Diana might be doing these days, had she not died in a tragic car crash nine years ago. The story includes Photoshopped pictures of what Diana might look like, turning fifty. They conjecture that she’d still be cutting edge, picturing her holding an iPhone and even including a hypothetical Facebook page. There you can read her posts, including one where she says she is now friends with Camilla Parker Bowles, her ex’s new wife. Charles even chimes in with a thumbs-up “Prince Charles likes this” posting.

Really? It has come to this? Newsweek and its publisher Tina Brown have now taken to making up the news instead of reporting it? We all know that the magazine business is in trouble, but when our “news” weeklies take to writing fiction, we know the end must be near.

Ms. Brown’s remake of this once creditable mag took four months, and her first issue in March drew pans. Even before her arrival, Newsweek was hurting badly with circulation down from four million in 2003 to 1.5 million in 2010.

But is this the solution to sagging sales? Offering up tawdry People-style fiction instead of journalism? God, I hope not!

"When Journalists Hit The Speaking Circuit" or "Turn Off That TV Camera!"

2011-06-11T12:10:00.003-05:00

Why would an NPR correspondent delivering a speech refuse to allow media coverage?

That was the question I asked myself, and that correspondent, when she appeared in my town at the annual Darien / Norwalk (CT) YWCA "Women of Distinction" luncheon. As volunteer program director of my town's government cable-access TV channel, I was assigned to cover the awards ceremony at which Dina Temple-Raston was the invited (and well-paid) keynote speaker.

For weeks her appearance had been promoted, the notices touting her work as NPR correspondent covering national security and anti-terrorism. At $85 apiece, the chicken lunch at a swish country club was a big draw. One hundred and seventy-five tickets were sold.

The organizers from the YWCA asked our station, Darien TV79, to cover the event knowing that our audience would be several times larger even than the crowd in attendance. The award recipients, incredibly talented local women, deserved the community's kudos and airtime.

A week before the event I made the mistake of suggesting to organizers that they clear our videotaping with Ms. Temple-Raston, expecting that a fellow journalist would certainly welcome coverage. Boy, was I wrong.

A few days before the luncheon, the Y told me she would not allow us to videotape her speech. Her agent said it was an NPR rule. But when I checked with friends who worked at NPR, they said they knew of no such edict.

As a former radio anchor (at NBC News, where I received a Peabody Award) I still see myself as a journalist. Our local TV station prides itself on its C-Span style "gavel to gavel" coverage of town events. We never edit our coverage and we don't allow those we're covering to dictate when we turn on and off our cameras. No real journalist would.

What should we do? Cover the awards luncheon? Boycott the entire event? I sought counsel from working journalist friends. One suggested I enlist the help of SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) or the ACLU. A local TV news director said, because it was a private event, the Freedom of Information Act wasn't applicable. The local NPR news director lamented my position but said there was little I could do.

Print reporters would be allowed to cover the speech. And photographers. But no TV and no audio recording. Why the double standard? I promised the Y only one thing: whatever happens, I intend to let folks know about the hypocrisy of their guest.

A day before the event, at my request, the Y sponsors circled back to me with more information. Apparently her agent was wrong. It was not an NPR's rule about no taping, it was Ms. Temple-Raston's rule. Clearly, the Juan Williams case (of NPR Staffers speaking off-air) has had a chilling effect on those NPR staffers' outside, money-making speaking gigs.

The day of the event I decided to give full coverage a final try. Arriving at the Woodway Country Club, I told the YWCA organizers that the community deserved to see the award winners and I promised to record only that... if I could speak to Ms. Temple-Raston and make a final appeal. Seconds later, she appeared and we shared a rather contentious two minute conversation.

"You know you cannot tape my speech"' she said. "So I've heard," I said, "But why? Is it really an NPR rule?". "No," she said, "It's just my personal preference. I am on vacation today."

Then I tried appealing to her as a fellow fifth-estater. "As a journalist are you comfortable in stopping my coverage of your speech?”

"Absolutely," she said without hesitation. "You're lucky I'm allowing you to tape the awards presentations!"

"That's not your call," I told her. "I'm here at the invitation of the YWCA."

"Well, that camera better be off. That's an ethical issue," she said, and then added icing to the cake... "and this conversation is off the record."

"No, this conversation is ON the record, Dina, and it is part of my coverage," I said.

At this point two other videographers arrived, one from The Patch and the other from News12, our local cable news operation. Dina visibly flinched, turning to both and reminding them they too could not tape her speech. "No problem," said one of them.

Her final comment came as a somewhat rhetorical question... "why are you being so hard-assed (about this)?"

Why? Because you, Ms Temple-Raston, can't have it both ways. You cannot promote your private, paid speaking business on the basis of your NPR work and then pretend that your comments are somehow private. Nobody came to pay $85 to hear you as an individual. They came to bask in the glory of your media aura.

If you brand yourself as part of NPR, your remarks should be open to public coverage. I’m guessing that you would tolerate no less in your own journalistic endeavors, would you?

Indeed, with all cameras turned off, Ms. Temple-Raston’s speech was no more than a series of audio clips from NPR and a few stories of her time in war zones. (I was allowed to take notes). As the women dined on their chicken she recounted an alleged Muslim honor killing she’d once covered, giving a detailed description of the wife being stabbed so many times OJ-style she was decapitated. Bon appetite.

Finishing her remarks, she sat down and the camera was turned back on as the awards were presented. It was a wonderful community celebration and our town TV station covered it as such.

The guest speaker hardly committed any “news” aside from being a turncoat to her journalistic ethic of an open and free press. I just hope that next year’s ceremony isn’t similarly distracted.

The Top Five IR Pitching Errors to Analysts

2011-02-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

Here's some helpful advice in dealing with analysts from an anonymous colleague:

The Top Five IR Pitching Errors to Analysts

1) Not establishing credibility.

You have to establish that you know the subject matter as well as the CEO or the CFO. The best IR guys make it seem as though they're subject experts. If they don't, the analysts just want to figure out how to get around them.

2) Obfuscation of the issues.

Analysts are a smart lot. The minute you try and obfuscate the truth, you've lost your audience and their trust. They'll question whether everything you've said is untrue. Analysts know your company well, so don't lie!

3) Not delivering the goods.

If you said the company is going to deliver something by a certain date or time, you had better deliver. Don't promise things you can't achieve. You'll be penalized more for overpromising and under delivering than you will for under-promising and over delivering.

4) Not explaining why it matters.

One big mistake IR people make is not explaining why certain strategic things that companies are working on matter. IR staff should be able to articulate key strategic themes, and what the financial impact will be on the profitability of the firm.

5) Being unclear about how you'll outperform.

There's a lot of competition for analyst attention. IR staff has to be obsessive about communicating why your company should be followed, and recommended, by the analyst community over the next firm.

Travel Writers Aren't Journalists!!

2011-01-29T17:28:00.000-05:00

I was finishing a media training with a travel industry client recently and our conversation turned to Travel Writers.

Now, I’m not one to generalize, but Travel Writers are about the lowest form of life in the journalism food chain. They seldom have ethics and are almost uniformly loathed by the PR and Travel Industries.

Why the low esteem, you ask? Because all too many travel writers are whores! They purport to be objective reporters of the average consumer’s travel experience but are anything but.

Ask anyone in travel PR and you’ll hear horror stories about travel writers asking, no… demanding, free trips, free hotels and meals. Yet, when they write their reviews they never disclose that their travel experience was comp’ed or that they places they wrote about knew they were writing a review! So much for objectivity.

Imagine if someone from Consumer Reports went into a car dealer and said “I’d like borrow a car for free so I can review your product.” Would the dealer give them just an average car, or one that’s been fine tuned, polished and made perfect? And getting a free car, do you think the reviewer’s report would be swayed?

Most restaurant critics dine anonymously and pay their own tab. Their experience most closely mirrors that of the average patron. But not the freeloading, gimme-gimme travel writer!

There are two notable exceptions to this generalization: Conde Nast Traveler magazine and the NY Times. Neither will buy a story from a reporter who accepted a “fam trip” (familiarization trip) or who didn’t pay their own way. What gets written in those publications, after extensive editorial scrutiny, has credibility. Everything else in newspaper travel sections, blogs and such is suspect.

Who do I trust most for travel reviews? Fellow travelers! Anytime I’m planning a trip, business or pleasure, I visit Trip Advisor and see what others have to say. The reviews may not be pearly prose, but they’re credible because they were written by someone like me and shared out of altruism, not greed.

What’s the difference between a journalist and blogger… or a travel writer and a Trip Advisor contributor? The ‘new media’ has empowered us all to find an audience. So let the best, most objective, most transparent writer win!

Something You Should Never Say to a Reporter

2010-09-23T16:08:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, in addition to my ‘day job’ as a media trainer, I’m also Program Director of our town’s TV station, Darien TV79. It’s an unpaid job, but I love it and believe deeply in open government. (I’m also an elected official and serve on our Board of Ethics).

Our TV station does gavel-to-gavel coverage of board and committee meetings… exciting stuff in a small town of 20,000. But we also do some evergreen programming about how town government operates under the title “Inside Town Hall.” Guess who the host is.

In my media training work I can be pretty tough during interview role playing. Think Bill O’Reilly. But on this town TV show, I try to be more like Brian Lamb of C-Span. I have no point of view. I’m only there to ask the dumb questions, like…

How did you become Chairman of the Board of Finance. How long is your term? What are you professional qualifications? What powers does the Board have? To whom do you report? How often do you meet? Etc, etc.

I even send my “guests” questions in advance so they can prep. Again… it’s supposed to be informative, not confrontational. Until two weeks ago.

Our town is preparing a collection drive for unused, unwanted prescription drugs. Citizens will drive up to a collection point, hand over their meds, which will then be sorted and properly incinerated. Why is the town doing this? Two reasons.

First, to keep drugs out of the hands of teens who have a record of abusing them, mistakenly assuming that, because they are Rx drugs, they are safe.

Second, to keep the drugs out of our environment… including our water supply.

That’s why this drug collection effort is being sponsored not only by the town health department but also a local anti-drug abuse group and Aquarion, our local water company.

But when it came time to interview the sponsors for a show promoting the effort, I hit a professional and ethical roadblock. One of the questions I wanted to ask the water company rep was, “Do you test our water for traces of prescription drugs? And if they are there, does you filtration system remove them?”

In other words, is our water safe? Pretty basic question, right?

But the Aquarion guy said “Don’t ask me that question.” And the town health department guy asked me not to piss off an important sponsor. Even the gal from the drug abuse group told me not to ask the question.

Why? Well, because Aquarion doesn’t test for these drugs because they don’t have to. The water company rep even linked me to a statement on their website. But he said the TV audience of his customers wouldn’t understand. So don’t ask and I won’t have to tell.

The AP did a five part series in 2008 about prescription drugs in water supplies. Doesn’t Aquarion think local residents read and remember such reports?

When I volunteered to be Program Director of this town TV station I didn’t check my ethics at the door. I don’t answer to town hall, but to my fellow citizens. I’m a volunteer. But I’m also a customer who wonders if his water is safe.

Bottom Line: Never say to a reporter “Don’t ask me X.” That’s not your job. Important questions should be asked. If you can’t or won’t answer, let the audience interpret that as they will.

As ABC White House correspondent Sam Donaldson once wrote: “It’s not the questions that do the damage, it’s the answers.”

Media Training Techniques for Social Media Success

2010-09-06T16:11:00.003-05:00

by Amy Fond / Cameron Communications

Be honest - how often are you on the web surfing social media sites? A quick tweet here, an hour on Facebook, a new friend on Linked-In, that viral video everyone's watching on YouTube. No surprise that according to socialtimes.com - consumers are spending an average of over 5 hours PER DAY on social media sites.

But can these sites be more than just ... social? Can you use social media sites to market your message to clients? Here are a few simple techniques from our Media Training workshops that can translate to a successful social media campaign.

1) Match the Message to the Medium: One of the first things we teach in Media Training is to know your audience. The same principle applies when interacting via social media sites. Know where your clients can most likely be found. What sites serve them best? Twitter, Facebook, Live Journal? A common mistake is thinking the broader the better - but why waste manpower and money marketing your message on Facebook when your clients are tweeting?

Last year the world’s largest computer manufacturer, Dell, Inc., sunk all its energy and time into marketing via Twitter. After extensive research Dell realized 30% of Twitter users are under the age of 25 – just the demographic it wanted to hit. So Dell started Tweeting its latest news, coupons, give-aways and more. And it paid off. Dell can now attribute more than 6.5 million dollars in revenue directly to Twitter.

2) Make them Care: The more personalized the message, the greater the impact. And what do people care about the most? Themselves! So offer them value in your message. Cut through the clutter with coupons, promotions, even tips and advice. Something your audience wouldn’t normally have access to that directly affects them.

The Home Depot has it nailed when it comes to social media marketing. The mega store devotes its YouTube site to publishing free educational content on Do-It-Yourself projects around the house. From “How to tile your bathroom” – to – “When to transfer potted plants.” The videos aren’t flashy, fast paced or viral, but they offer practical knowledge and money saving tips. By giving value to its YouTube viewers with content consumers want to see, The Home Depot also establishes itself as a trusted expert.

3) Keep it Current: In our Media Training workshops we teach you to find the news-hook, the angle that’s going to keep your message fresh and topical for TV or print. But Social media is even more fast-paced and timely. Facebook boasts some 700 new status updates every second! And during the World Cup, Twitter shattered a record with more than 3,280 tweets per second! Successful social media marketing campaigns are updated every week, every day, even every few hours.

You don’t have to have a huge budget, or unlimited time to create a fan base and keep them hooked. The start-up clothing company AKA NewYork just created a Facebook page, quickly landing hundreds of fans. Aside from showcasing its latest line, it added a new twist - a Summer Friday Freebie Contest where it gives away one of its latest trends to a lucky fan each Friday. AKA NewYork also offers a top trend tip of the week. The contest and tips not only keep fans coming back weekly, but also help ensure the site has fresh content for consumers.

So whether you want to cut through the clutter via traditional press or social media sites, connect with your audience. Know who they are, where they can be found and know what they want. Then keep them coming back with new content. But, remember, unlike with TV and print, you can get immediate feedback from social media sites. So don’t forget to stop and listen!

Take it from Nick Ayres, New Media & Content Manager at The Home Depot: “The most important lesson to remember about social media marketing is that it’s about creating relationships. And, like any relationship, that means give and take. Listen to what people are saying, and you might be pleasantly surprised at what you hear.”

Tiger Woods' "Apology"

2010-02-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

Did you see Tiger's mea culpa on live TV last week? BULLDOG REPORTER asked for my comments, and here's what I wrote:

It was not a news conference, and it was barely an apology. A handpicked group of family and friends? No real reporters asking questions? And Tiger delivering a robot-like, poorly read statement (without prompters) in a room that looked like a funeral parlor? This is the best his handlers could come up with after all this time?

He seemed at times over-rehearsed (the emotional pause, the hand on his heart); for the most part, his delivery came off as phony and insincere while working from a script obviously written by a committee, not by him.

And Tiger's costar in this little drama? Not his wife Elin, but his mother, looking stern at first and later looking down, unable to watch her own son. Then this Oedipal embrace after the speech? Please!

The wide shot of the crowd's reactions spoke volumes. If Tiger couldn't connect with this handpicked bunch of toadies, he sure couldn't do a good job connecting with the public. This entire "public apology" was too little far too late to do anything useful in reviving his damaged brand.

What should have been done instead? My perspective:

1. Tiger's handlers should not have waited so long to go public, letting the story grow and fester.

2. Why not do his mea culpa one-on-one with someone like Bob Costas in a controlled interview with agreed-to ground rules on the questions. Surely some journo would whore themselves for that exclusive.

3. If he had to read a statement, rehearse it! It needed to sound genuine and spontaneous, not scripted and unprepared.

4. Whatever it took, have his wife there showing genuine support.

Last Friday's performance was weak. Instead of putting the story to rest, everything he tried to avoid (reporters, questions, real emotions) will be waiting for him when he returns to the public eye.

Tiger will be back. But he'll never be a star again. And I doubt, given all that's on his mind, he'll ever play great golf again. I'd predict that the last of his sponsors will slip away in the coming months. The Germans have a word for it: Schadenfreude.

WHO SAYS IT'S "NEWS" ?

2010-01-28T15:07:00.002-05:00

In a time of newsroom layoffs, citizens have every right to be skeptical of what passes for “news” these days in print, broadcast and websites.

As a former journalist I know the diligence that should go into vetting a story for accuracy before it is reported. Sadly, those standards aren’t what they used to be.

Competitive pressures and smaller staffs force too many newsrooms to “get it out” first, then check the facts. Bloggers and “citizen journalists” muddy the process by offering opinions under the guise of news. And far too many news organizations regurgitate handout material (press releases, video news releases, freebies) and report them without disclosure or much fact-checking.

Even “soft” news should be suspect: theater critics shouldn’t be given free tickets or restaurant reviewers free meals. Their reporting should be done anonymously, replicating the average consumer’s experience.

Even big, traditional news organizations have found their increasing use of freelancers who haven’t been following their rules is causing big problems… witness this fascinating mea culpa from the New York Times’ Public Editor.

And don’t get me started on groups like Fox News that keep reminding us that “We report, you decide”. The more a site has to proclaim its quality, the less it probably has.

No wonder readers / viewers / listeners are skeptical. But what fascinates me is that most of us, instead of seeking out differing viewpoints to balance the bias, just tend to wallow in “news” that supports our own views.

Fox news fans rely on The Drudge Report to confirm Fox’s slanted coverage. And NPR listeners never miss Keith Olberman or Rachel Maddow to bolster their liberal views.

Here’s a fascinating exercise:

Watch your favorite evening network newscast… ABC, CBS, NBC of Fox. Then watch that same evening’s newscast on the BBC America, France’s Antenne Deux or Italy’s RAI networks. You’d hardly know that you’re viewing coverage of the same day’s events.

If you read the NY Times, add another out-of-town or international paper’s website to your reading list. And whatever your political leanings, always give a look at Pro Publica, the “public interest” (non-profit) news website.

When driving, I always try to catch Rush Limbaugh and Neil Boortz, not because I agree at all with their jaundiced views, but because I need to hear and understand them. And who knows, maybe I’ll hear them say something that will actually make me THINK!

The Fallacy of Facebook: Twittering Away Our Time

2009-10-13T14:38:00.002-05:00

So-called “social media” are getting far too much hype, time and budget.

If you want to reach people where they “think”, traditional media is the way to go, not Facebook. You want to build a social media site for a client, be my guest. But that’s not the place to make a credible impression or to change people’s minds. Facebook is ego gratification, not persuasion.

A single story placement in print… a satellite media interview on even a low rated UHF TV station… even a spot-news radio interview… any of these will get you more “eyeballs” than “friend’ing” on FB.

And as for Twitter… what a time waster! It’s the equivalent of online Kindergarten: A bunch of self-absorbed kids, each yelling louder than the next one, “I’m cool. Pay attention to me”. Who cares, or remembers?

People in PR who waste their time “tweeting” on behalf of clients could better be spending their time pitching a journalist or blogger.

Millions of self-obsessed Twitterers don’t mean squat. And PR strategies that depend on such folly need to be rethought. Show me the data that social media changes minds and I’ll change mine. But ‘til then, MSM (mainstream media) rule!

Newspapers may be shrinking, but they still have readers who turn to them and their journalists with trust. Sure, selling your story to a reporter is harder than putting it on Facebook, but which has the credibility? And when this morning’s Facebook post has scrolled off into oblivion, a print “hit” is still around for others to see and comment on forever.

Yes, I have a Facebook page and occasionally “Tweet”. They’re fun, like playing Sudoku. But they’re not my strategy for finding new business or establishing credibility with my clients. Firms that tweet and post self-serving Facebook status updates come off looking stupid or desperate.

Too many people in PR are believing their own hype when it comes to this new medium. Social media is fun, but it’s not the salvation for an industry trying to reach people with credible, thoughtful messages. Stop playing and start pitching!

Isn't it time for all of us to get back to work?

THE NEXT GREAT COMMUNICATOR: OBAMA RAISES THE BAR

2008-11-05T20:34:00.000-05:00

Like the rest of the world, I was in awe at the outcome of the Presidential elections. As a naturalized American citizen, the outcome was evidence yet again of the power and durability of this democracy. We are the envy of the world by what we have done rather than by whom we have bombed.

But when I watched Senator Barak Obama’s election night acceptance speech before a crowd of a half-million fans (and countless billions viewing worldwide), I was struck once again not only by what he said but also by the brilliance of his delivery.

We’d seen it before in small soundbites on the campaign trail and in interviews. And we certainly saw it during the debates where the reaction shots of John McCain’s fiery temper contrasted starkly with Obama’s cool demeanor.

Like no leader in generations, Obama knows how to deliver a speech.

Admittedly, not all of Obama’s prose is written by him. His whiz-kid speech writer, Jon Favreau deserves much of the credit for the Dr. Martin Luther King-like verbiage and John Kennedy-style similes.

But the delivery is all Obama. It’s about more than just the words.

And as we’ve seen for the last eight excruciating years, even a well written speech can be slaughtered in the delivery. (Just what will Letterman and Leno do without “W” to kick around anymore?)

But what does this mean to you in your communications with clients, stakeholders and the media? Well first off, a higher standard of what makes a “great communicator”.

Barak Obama has raised the bar.

So what is it that makes Obama a “great communicator”?

TECHNOLOGY: Certainly he can read a teleprompter… a very “teachable” skill for some reason never mastered by John McCain. But better yet, he knows how to deliver a line with pacing and patience and passion. He knows when to wait for applause, or even just to let an idea sink in. Contrast Obama with Palin, one brilliant, the other clueless… one poised, the other staccato.

CONNECTING: Even unscripted, watch and listen to Obama. He thinks before he speaks, choosing his words carefully. He looks you in the eye and connects, even in a big crowd, cementing the emotional bond.

Watch the faces in the crowd in the Chicago acceptance speech on election night. Sure, they’re his fans, but look at their tear-filled eyes as they each think he’s speaking just to them, united in thought.

STORIES: Obama doesn’t speak in generalities. He offers anecdotes, one of the most powerful ways of connecting with an audience. And I’d take his 106 year old Ann Cooper over McCain’s “Joe the Plumber” any day.

LANGUAGE: Obama speaks English. Words do matter. His tone is at once formal and stentorian, and in the next minute informal and down-home. His vocabulary matches the moment, lending importance or humanity.

REPETITION: You don’t just deliver a key idea once, you repeat it. In the Chicago speech his rhetorical questions to the crowd were met over and over again with “Yes we can”.

HE’S REAL: Obama’s smile is killer… but genuine, and never forced. People instinctively know the difference.

Sure, it’s one thing to deliver an historic election night victory speech and quite another to talk straight with us about duty and sacrifice. But who would you rather take bad news from, a guy you trust or a phony robo-pol?

My prediction: We can look forward to four (maybe eight?) years of extraordinary speeches, press conferences, interviews and fireside chats. I’d expect the Obama presidency to make us all demand more of those we listen to, be they in politics or business.

Speech writers may try to mimic Obama (and Favreau’s) style. Their speaking clients will hope to match his delivery.

And we’ll be working with all our clients to help them meet Americans’ newly raised expectations of what it means to “connect” with someone they trust.

And you know what? Out of this we’ll all be winners.

Good communicators are what we need.

11/5/08

Newsroom Secrets for Satellite Media Tours

2008-10-09T15:25:00.001-05:00

by Amy Fond / Cameron Communications Inc.

"Satellite Media Tours (SMTs) consist of a sequence of one-on-one satellite interviews with a series of pre-booked television reporters across the country or around the world. Satellite media tours typically involve an interview with an author, performer, executive or other spokesperson promoting an upcoming event, product, movie or book release. SMTs generally are conducted from a studio but can originate from remote locations and may be aired live by the television station or recorded for a later airing."
- Medialink Worldwide, Inc.

A Satellite Media Tour can be a great tool to promote your campaign across the country to wide audiences. But while your spokesperson is being beamed out nationwide – you may be surprised at what's going on in newsrooms coast to coast. To truly maximize the impact of your SMT it's imperative that your spokesperson is media trained to make sure that your messaging is heard, and that viewers care. But knowing what the reporter on the receiving end is thinking, and doing, can help level the playing field and also lead to success.
Here are some newsrooms secrets for your next SMT - and why training your spokesperson is that much more important.

- They're listening! While your spokesperson is speaking with WPVI, ABC in Philadelphia – WJBK, FOX in Detroit may be listening in. When it's a station's turn for their allotted interview – they dial in to connect to your spokesperson via telephone. The spokesperson will hear the interviewer through a special earpiece called IFB. But even before a station's scheduled interview time – they can dial in and listen to previous interviews being conducted. Without you knowing – a station can hear how your spokesperson is answering questions from other TV stations, and how they handle tough topics! This allows the eaves dropping newsroom to either copy questions they've heard or begin to craft trickier ones. Stations are also listening in to see if your spokesperson is coming off as too commercial. If they think the product is being mentioned too often - they'll cancel their upcoming interview before their turn on the ‘bird’!

- They do want a list of questions from you! More often than not, if you provide a station with a list of questions for your spokesperson, they'll use it. Send over a list of 10 questions you think will help highlight your messaging. Believe it or not - that saves a busy newsroom Producer a lot of time. Training your on-camera talent to successfully answer those questions is a must. The big mistake though, comes when you think a station will ONLY ask those questions. SMTs can often last up to 4 minutes – which means your talent could have a lot of time in the hot seat. They need to be able to tackle whatever comes their way, all the while remembering to deliver their messaging. If they're only prepared for the questions you've crafted – they'll do themselves, and your company, a big disservice. Why do all that work to find the perfect spokesperson and not fully prepare them for success? Crafting your own questions can help – but don't forget about all the other doors stations will try to open.

- They may be taping the interview to run later in their broadcast! Most stations will tell you if they're taping the interview for later use. They may use phrases like "We're putting this to tape." But some stations may not mention how or when they're going to use the interview. If they're taping the interview for later use – that means they can, and will, chop up and edit your spokesperson. If a station thinks the spokesperson was pushing a product too hard – they can cut that part out, meaning your messaging may never get heard. That's why it's even more important to work with your spokesperson so they can deliver your messages in a way that matters to the viewing audience. If a station thinks there's information that viewers will want to hear and will tune in for – they'll run it.

While newsrooms may have their book of tricks to help them conduct SMTs – now you're on the same page. And if your spokesperson is media trained on how to bring in messages points, deflect tough questions, and come off as credible – you can help create a successful campaign and a news segment viewers will watch and remember!

Amy Fond is a Media Trainer and Presentations Coach with Cameron Communications, Inc. She's conducted countless SMT interviews as a Journalist, coordinated numerous SMTs as a Producer, and has Media Trained dozens of clients to successful Satellite Media Tours. For more information: www.mediatrainer.tv or amy@mediatrainer.tv

5 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CELEBRITY SPOKESPERSON

2008-07-04T15:39:00.004-05:00

By AMY FOND, Cameron Communications Inc.

"The nice thing about being a celebrity is that if you bore people, they think it's their fault." – Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger has obviously never seen a celebrity drone on endlessly plugging a product. Celebrities may be trained to act or sing – but that doesn't also mean they're automatically trained to be good spokespeople. So how do you make sure the star you're working with - will work for you when it comes to your messaging?
Follow these 5 tips to help ensure success the next time you partner with a prominent spokesperson.

#1 Don't Confuse Success with Succinct: Just because someone's in the public eye and is successful on TV, in the movies, or on the radio – doesn't mean they're a great public speaker. While you may want your celebrity spokesperson to talk about your cause – stations may only want to talk to them about their personal life, their latest movie, or their recent arrest! They need to have the skills to seamlessly switch topics. That's why Media Training a celebrity is a must! They may already have the skills to tackle tough questions – but the more they practice deflecting dangerous topics – the better they'll get. Make sure you work with the celebrity prior to the interview so they know what questions are appropriate to answer, those they don't have to answer, and when and how to bring in your messaging in a credible manner.

#2 Be Wary of the Celeb Seen too Often: I once worked with a famous female, movie star to help her promote a new campaign for a nationwide pet association. Stations loved the segment – the star had recently been in the news and she was great working in her messaging. Two weeks later I was working with her again! This time she was speaking on behalf of a well-known camera brand. Same star, but there wasn't as much appeal. Was the story less newsy than her last appearance? Maybe. But she was starting to become oversaturated. You can guess what happened two months later when she was back to promote a brand of toys - bookings were hard to come by. Make sure you check around to see what other promotional work the celebrity you've partnered with has done. A good time frame is to wait at least 4 months before using that celeb to promote another product.

#3 Play Matchmaker: What leads to the most successful use of a celebrity spokesperson? When the celebrity truly matches the cause or product. Just because someone's famous and can garner attention – doesn't mean they'll garner positive attention for your brand. Example: Using Lindsay Lohan to promote a board game - - probably not the best pairing. A better match would be an example of a female TV-Star I trained for a recent campaign. She had diabetes and was promoting a new injectable therapy for diabetics. The campaign was a hit. She was able to talk about her personal experiences and brought true credibility to the table. So when you're looking for the perfect celeb to pair your product with – just make sure they have nice teeth if they're talking about toothpaste!

#4 Watch out for the Product Pusher: One of the best ways to tank a campaign is if the celebrity looks like they're pushing a product. You want them to be able to stick to their messaging – but not at the expense of looking like they were 'paid to promote.' I know of several stations that hesitate airing campaigns involving a prominent, male, singer. Why? Because his segments come off as commercials: he over mentions the product and turns viewers off. So how do you ensure your celeb doesn't disappoint? A good rule of thumb is to have the celebrity answer or acknowledge the first two questions from the Anchor/Reporter at the start of the interview – then make sure they know how to bring in their messaging by the third question. Let them be a celebrity in the beginning to help hook viewers. If they're media trained to bring in their messages – they will, and should, by the third question, to avoid looking like a salesman.

#5 Don't Forget Fame Can Mean Fuss: Why did a Satellite Media Tour with a famous, female, performer fail the morning of? There weren't hard-boiled eggs on-site. I'm not kidding. It somehow fell through the cracks that the celeb had requested hard-boiled eggs the morning of the tour, and when they weren't there, she was cranky and uncooperative. So why waste the good training and invested time because of an un-soothed ego? Double check lists, ask if they have their own make-up artist or if they need one, find out about dietary concerns, and make sure the celeb knows the timing of the day and how long the day may stretch. And don't forget the hard-boiled eggs!

Amy Fond is a Media Trainer and Presentations Coach with Cameron Communications, Inc. She's been interviewing and working with celebrities as a Journalist and Media Trainer for more than a decade. For more information: www.mediatrainer.tv or amy@mediatrainer.tv

The VNR Is Dead!

2008-03-05T17:11:00.006-05:00

My new partner, Amy Fond, comes to Cameron Communications Inc. from a long career in journalism and video production. As she writes below, the times are changing when it comes to VNR's!

- Jim Cameron, President

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It used to be king when it came to getting your story on news broadcasts – but now VNR - are three letters some stations don't want to hear.

Video News Releases have your message embedded in them. When a station runs the full VNR – you're assured the story you crafted will be aired. They're designed to be indistinguishable from actual TV news reports - but that's the main problem with the Federal Communication Commission.

The controversy began a few years back when the FCC starting cracking down on VNR use after it was discovered the White House was using them to promote its own agenda. Critics called the VNR’s “paid propaganda”, with taxpayers footing the bill!

The FCC took action – either stations disclose the source of the VNR footage, with a title on the screen, or pay a hefty fine. Many stations chose option "C" – don't run VNRs at all.

Broadcast PR companies who produce VNRs saw a sharp decline in their airings. Once, a VNR could reach over 7 million viewers. Now monitoring reports were coming back with a few hundred thousand eyeballs in smaller markets. With results harder to deliver, production companies who used to produce 15 VNRs a month – now send out 4 or 5 a year. Instead many are looking beyond VNRs - turning to paid placement, b-roll packages and live guest bookings to get clients’ stories on the air.

So what does this mean for you?

You either need truly compelling video, or a spokesman who can deliver on the spot. Paid placement vehicles can be as short as half a minute and look like public service or informational announcements.

Can the executive, doctor or celebrity you're working with convincingly convey your messages in as little as 10-12 seconds? Can they ensure your message will be heard during a live interview where they can't control the questions?

If you have a third party spokesman, tips or advice for viewers, a true news hook and a willingness to curb your product mentions – then a VNR may still work for you.

Otherwise, you’d better be certain your spokesman has had media training to make sure your message will be heard!

“TECH TIPS FOR SPEAKERS”: PowerPoint’s Other Face

2007-06-27T16:18:00.000-05:00

So, I’ve only been doing Speech / Presentation workshops for 25 years, teaching clients how to make more powerful presentations. But I’ve just learned of a powerful tool, thanks to David Pogue of the NY Times.

Pogue’s the tech writer for the paper and host of a great weekly TiVo-cast. I heard him speak at the Bulldog Conference in Washington and, at his suggestion, have been using the fabulous voice recognition software package “Naturally Speaking” which allows me to “talk” my written communications, including this blog, without keyboarding.

Pogue also has a great new series on Discovery HD called “It’s All Geek To Me” and in a recent episode on laptops, he taught this old dog a great new trick for using PowerPoint.

One of the worst sins as a presenter is to read your slides to the audience verbatim. (Hello?!? English is my first language!) That’s why PowerPoint has a “Speaker Notes” function embedded in every PPT “deck”. Using “Speaker Notes” the speaker can script what they want to say about each slide that’s not visible on the slide itself.

The problem is, you have to print out those “Speaker Notes” and use them as hard copy while projecting the slides on the screen. Or so I thought.

As Professor Pogue taught me, if you use the “Presenter Tools” or “Presenter View” tool in PowerPoint, you can see the Speaker Notes on your screen while your computer sends the slides to the LCD projector. Duh! Why is this function so buried in such a ubiquitous but essential software tool for business.

Here’s how to find this nifty tool:

For PowerPoint on the Mac just chose “Slide Show” and then “Presenter Tools”.

On Windows, of course, it’s more complicated. From the top tool bar select “Slide Show”, then “Set Up Show”. In the dialogue box check the big “Show Presenter View”. Then, in the “Display slide show on” list select the monitor you want the slides on.

When it’s set-up correctly, your audience will see the slide and your laptop will show you the Speaker Notes version of that slide and, on the left, thumbnails of the entire slide deck. That way you won’t “read” your slides, but give the audience some “value added”, i.e. info that’s not on the slide itself.

It will also make it easier to transition between slides, a technique I call “teasing”. Using Presenter View you’ll know what’s up next and can intro it verbally before showing it visually.

If you’re still confused, check out this explanation from Microsoft.

Try this out and let me know how it works. And thanks, David, for a fabulous tip!

TECH TIPS FOR PR: “Typing by Talking”

2007-06-27T15:48:00.000-05:00

This edition of my blog is being written without me touching the keyboard.

As I dictate this column, the words appear on the screen as fast as I can say them. The future has finally arrived! My computer is listening to me.

Voice recognition software has come a long way since I first tested Dragon “Naturally Speaking” about five years ago. The newest edition of the software from Nuance is up to version 9 and is a quantum leap from the earlier versions.

I have to give credit to David Pogue of the New York Times for turning me on to the software though I had seen it heavily advertised before. Pogue was being interviewed on Connecticut public radio when he recommended the program has been nothing short of brilliant. He was right.

Truth be told, I’m turning into something of a Pogue groupie. Not only do I read his column, but religiously watch his TiVo-cast, and his new series on discovery HD, “It’s All Geek To Me.” He was also one of the keynote speakers at the recent Bulldog conference and wowed the audience.

The “Naturally Speaking” software package costs all of a hundred bucks, including the headset and microphone. Unlike earlier versions, this one requires no learning for the software to adjust your voice. All you do is load the CDs and go.

Ironically, it’s taking some getting used to, to be able to think and speak as fast as this program can keep up with you. It used to be the typing was slow enough you could collect your thoughts before the words were committed to paper. But this program screams it so fast.

I learned to type 40 years ago the old-fashioned way, two fingers at the time but fast. My daughter, who’s in high school, can type faster than me, but is probably in the last generation that will be the perfect keyboard skills.

If you do a lot of typing in your work, whether for e-mail or documents, you should definitely check out this program. It will make your life a lot simpler.

(Full disclosure: OK… I’ll admit I did have to spend 2 minutes correcting a few errors after dictating this column, but it was so much faster than keyboarding the whole thing!)

Bulldog - Part 2: New Media vs Old... and Crisis PR

2006-04-12T20:29:00.000-05:00

BULLDOG – Part Two

More tidbits from this week’s Bulldog Reporter media relations conference in NYC…

NEW MEDIA:

Media commentator Bob Garfield’s (NPR’s “On the Media”, Ad Age, USA Today) presentation, “The Chaos Scenario: What Happens When the Old Media Collapse,” made a fitting keynote kick-off to day two of the conference.

Garfield noted that, in an advertising-driven media world, the decline in network TV audiences will soon send advertisers running to new ways to reach audiences for their annual $250 billion worth of spending.

== Five years ago, American Express spent 70% of their advertising on TV. Now, 80% is spent off of TV.

== P&G, which spends $5.5 billion a year on ads, recently launched their Prilosec brand with 75% of their buys not on TV.

== Online search, with key-word ad placement by the likes of Google and Yahoo, now nets those firms $7 billion a year in revenues. (One client of mine, which specializes in key-word search ad-buy software, told me that major corporations “buy” up to five million key words to guarantee their ads reach eyeballs)

== CNN, which on a good day can garner 400,000 TV viewers, gets 5 million visitors a day to its website.

== Disney, despite owning ABC, is increasingly moving its ad dollars online… while recently announcing that it will give away its TV shows online.

Garfield doubted that advertiser-supported network TV can last. He claimed that low-cost reality shows that have been subsidizing more expensive shows like “Desperate Housewives.” “And how long can that trend survive?” As for “branded entertainment” shows, such as “Queer Eye”, he said their novelty quickly dissipates. “How many of you have seen a recent episode of that show?” One or two hands went up. “I mean, it’s embarrassing!”

Radio faces a similar fate. Garfield said that by 2020 even today’s hot techno-trend, satellite radio, will be gathering dust on a garage shelf as listeners migrate to digital media such as podcasts.

== Clear Channel’s market cap is $16.2 billion. But the cost of starting your own Podcast is $29.95, including tax. You don’t need an FCC license, studios or staff.

Strangely enough for advertisers, none of this decline network audience has meant lower rates. Rather than asking ad buyers to make an “up front” commitment to next fall’s TV series, someone suggested the “up-front” season should be for viewers who could vote with their pocketbooks for their favored programs.

Broadband penetration today is about 40% of the US and is predicted to climb to 60% by 2020. “But it will never be 100%, and that means that we’ll always have a two-class society in this country… those with (broadband and its programming possibilities) and those without.”

The implications of these trends to PR were obvious, but left unspoken. These are my views:

=== With declining TV viewership, such traditional vehicles as satellite media tours will prove ineffective. There’s already a reluctance of many stations to accept SMT’s and VNR’s, given last year’s disclosure that even Uncle Sam was using them to sell us government propaganda at taxpayer expense.

=== PR will have to double its staffing to pitch more and more niche media to reach narrower and narrower audiences. This diffusion will make our efforts less cost-efficient.

=== Younger PR staffers who have grown up with these new media will have tremendous advantages over us “grey hairs” who can barely program a VCR.

=== Niche media, by their nature, will be less interested in carrying PR’s messages, priding themselves on their independence and lack of hype. Their low start-up and operating costs will keep them honest.

One NYC PR giant recently launched a new beauty product by chartering a 757 and jetting a couple dozen influential beauty editors to a weekend spa retreat. It was expensive, but got them lots of ink…and reached their potential customers. Imagine trying to reach as many “consumers” thru hundreds of web site, Podcast and blog editors.

PR & HANDLING A CRISIS:

One of the best panels at the conference was on how to use PR in mediating a crisis.

The key panelist was Al Tortorella, Managing Director of Crisis Management for Ogilvy PR. Tortorella was introduced as the “father of crisis PR”, having worked with Tylenol on the 1982 tampering case. Among his observations…

When called in on a crisis, 75% of the time he’s found the accusations against his clients are correct. In a quarter of those cases, clients’ problems result from employee sabotage or involvement with sex, drugs or alcohol.

The first thing he does when called in to help is conduct research, never trusting management speculation or media coverage of the impact of the wrong-doing. Only by polling consumers can he gauge what’s happening… or decide what the public thinks should be done. “Ask them (consumers) and they’ll tell what the client should do to put things right.”

The best spokesperson for a company in crisis is “never the CEO”. His formula for a face for a company in crisis is quite simple:

· Always a woman
· She must be a doctor (though in what discipline, it doesn’t matter)
· She must have perfect English, but with a German or English accent
· When appropriate, such as for TV, she should wear a white lab coat

Tortorella says the media never “goes after” a woman spokesperson as aggressively as a man.

Asked about the inevitable tensions between “Legal” and PR during a crisis he said that PR should prevail.

“PR professionals use lawyers as an excuse (when they don’t act) because they don’t have any better ideas.”

Amen.

Bulldog - Part 1: Aaron Brown on TV News

2006-04-11T17:42:00.000-05:00

BULLDOG: Part One

The Bulldog Reporter’s annual Media Relations seminar was held in NYC April 9-11, 206. In addition to leading two workshops, I attended some very interesting panels. Here’s the first of my reports.

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Since his program was cancelled on CNN last summer, Aaron Brown has had lots of time on his hands.

He’s used it to bond with his soon –to-be college-bound daughter, to cook, build a new home in Arizona, “play a little golf”… and to think about the state of his industry. He shared his comments in a pithy, thoughtful keynote address at the Bulldog Media Relations seminar in New York City on April 10th.

“I am privileged beyond belief,” he said of his tenure in network news. “But life is way too short to be upset by the natural course of events,” speaking of his layoff from CNN. “I’m still getting paid,” he added with a smile.

He reminded the audience that he was in good company in his current dilemma, naming anchors from Howard K Smith to Walter Cronkite who had also been laid off during their careers.

Does your mind go to jelly when you’re not working, he was asked? “I work in TV news. That happened long ago,” he responded, adding that “I’m in a good state, far better than having high blood pressure.”

Among the “lessons” he’s learned…

Ø “Immediate does not always mean important. None of us got in this business to keep chasing the ‘runaway bride’. We were drawn to journalism by big events,” telling how he watched Cronkite’s coverage of the JFK assassination and recounting that it was then that he knew his career goal. “(Viewers) come to anchors in major moments of crisis because they know and trust them. (They’re) scared, and we don’t want to be alone.”

Ø The major networks have finished their generational transition, from Tom, Dan and Peter to the younger anchors. “These replacements are all good, smart and capable… but yet to be tested in moments of crisis.” How will Katie Couric do at CBS? “Great. But the question is how audiences will transition from a ‘goofy morning show’ to something more serious. Brokaw made that switch. The question isn’t how Katie will do, but that she did (take up the challenge).” Brown added that, while the senior anchors also had clout within their news organizations, he’s not so sure this new group will be as well connected and respected internally… or if they’ll be heard.

Ø On the increasing entertainment nature of TV news, Brown said viewers get what they deserve. “If Frontline drew a 28 share it would be on every night. I just wish we could lower the volume of discourse. We get good TV news because we demand it. (What we need to do is) reject those who engage in incivility and not tune it in just for the fun of it.”

Ø Asked about the pressure of ratings Brown admitted that they do matter. “ABC used to measure audience by minute by minute, but that was a bit much”. But he almost agreed with his old ABC boss Rick Kaplan who said that those who use Tivo and don’t watch commercials are, in effect, “stealing”. Brown said that when his daughter was three, she complained about the commercial interrupting her favorite shows. “Gabby, I said… in this household we LOVE commercials.” That business model won’t change, he somewhat lamented.

Ø The audiences have changed. These days “people only want to hear what they already believe. Tell them something different and they scream bias. The joy of democracy,” he said, “should come from learning from others’ points of view. (But) TV is a democracy and we vote with our remote controls.”

Ø In a climate of scandal in the journalism world, reporters have “gone woozy”, losing that characteristic “strut” they learned in J-school. “They’ve become gun-shy, confusing balance with fairness.” Brown says when C-Span did an interview with the author of a book on the holocaust they felt obliged to also interview a holocaust denier. Brown says that, after the invasion of Iraq there was too much discussion of a proven fallacy..,. that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.” “If you were doing a segment on NASA would you feel obliged to interview someone who says the earth is flat? “There is no doubt that global warming is underway. We should debate its implications and its effects on the economy… not give airtime to arguments that it doesn’t really exist. That shouldn’t be up for debate.”

Asked about anticipated coverage of the Duke University lacrosse team sex scandal, Brown said it was an interesting story, not from the sex angle but because of the race issue. “Race is the most uncomfortable communications issue we have today,” adding that while he wouldn’t predict OJ-style, never-ending coverage, he did forecast that “broadcasters will do what the market wants them to do.”

###

"Off The Record"

2005-11-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

If the jailing of New York Times reporter Judith Miller has taught us anything, it’s that some reporters have the ethical conviction to protect their sources who speak to them “off the record”. If only that was true of all reporters.

Part of the problem is, not all reporters agree on what the phrase “off the record” really means.

When I was working at NBC News, the two things I was given day-one were 1) a key to the men’s room, and 2) a copy of NBC News Policies and Procedures. I had to return the key when I departed 30 Rock, but I still have the P&P’s book.

Blowing the dust off the blue binder and gently turning the yellowed, mimeographed pages, I recently re-read the two pages in that binder relating to the use of “Confidential Sources”. As an employee of NBC News, those guidelines make it unambiguously clear what obligations I had to my sources. If push came to shove, I’d have gone to jail to protect their identity.

But these days, much of that book might as well get tossed out the window. For too many reporters a “confidential source” is seen as a springboard to career advancement, not a journalistic trust that must be kept.

In my media training workshops, I tell my clients that “Off The Record” is a trust which the reporter must earn. It doesn’t automatically come with a press pass. Most often, my training clients are meeting a reporter for the first time. There should be no expectation of journalistic ethics in this age of Fox News and anonymous bloggers.

Even more dangerous is the reporter who implies “off the record” but never uses those words. The reporter who closes his notebook, turns off his tape recorder and seems to indicate the interview is over should to be regarded with caution. Some of the best stories I got as a working journalist occurred “after the interview”, not during it. Every contact with a reporter must be seen as part of the news gathering process.

The overheard comment in a public space is also fair game for reporting. The men’s room chat after a speech or interview is as much a part of the news gathering as the formal sit-down interview.

Reporters aren’t your friends, but neither are they the enemy. They are a conduit for sending your message to their audience.

So… Stay on the record. Deliver your messages. Always assume the tape / video recorder is on. Don’t be paranoid, but do be on guard and on-message.

PR & The Media: The Perfect (Ethical) Storm

2005-05-31T19:13:00.000-05:00

Who’s to blame for the misuse of VNR’s and SMT’s? The PR agencies and the clients they produced them for, or the media, for running them without full disclosure? I’d argue that both are culpable. As a former-reporter-turned-media-trainer, I think PR and the media are co-conspirators in the fake news debacle, with the public being the real losers.

Stations take VNR’s and SMT’s because they 1) need to fill air time, 2) are of no cost to them and 3) have (hopefully) some programming value. PR people know the media’s need for infotainment and see the credibility of supposed news as a great venue for their message. In my view, there’s nothing wrong with hand-out tape as long as its source is identified.

Full disclosure: I narrate VNR’s and I train dozens of people for SMT’s every year, but I always counsel my clients to be upfront about the source of these “free” feeds. If a financial analyst can be quizzed on CNBC about the stocks he’s plugging, why shouldn’t a doc disclose that he’s being paid to be a guest expert on an SMT flogging a new drug?

But the ethical dance between PR and the media doesn’t end with just VNR’s and SMT’s. Too much discussion has focused on TV, while ethical lapses abound in print. Consider the following true cases and tell me who’s to blame. (The names have been changed to protect the ‘innocent’, but these are far from isolated examples.)

THE JUNKET: To launch a new cosmetic product, Fabco PR needs to get the attention of senior editors at the “beauty books”. A jaded bunch, these ed’s can’t be bought with a mere lunch at Le Cirque. So, Fabco charters a 757 to whisk them thousands of miles away for a long weekend of pampering, fine food and a small portion of product hype. The result: dozens of pages of gushing news coverage with ‘nary a mention to readers that these mags’ praise for the product was bought with their editors’ schmoozing.

THE AWARD: To promote awareness of their disease (let’s call it fabulosis), the Fabulosis Foundation holds an awards contest to “honor” journalists’ coverage of this affliction. Widely promoted in the news-biz trades, reporters submit articles and video clips of their coverage for the judges’ consideration. A nice plaque and a big check await the winner. But were their stories created to win the big prize, or because the disease really warrants greater public attention. Did the Foundation prime the pump, or was the well really dry?

THE AD BUY: A trade reporter interviews a marketing exec about a new product and hears a great story worthy of ink. Not satisfied, the marketer reminds the reporter that his company is buying several pages of ads in his trade, clearly implying that the product launch deserves bigger play. (This dance can also be led by the ‘reporter’ who just happens to present a rate-card to the marketer at the conclusion of the interview).

THE DEMO: The Acme Outdoor Co. wants to promote its fashionable attire, camping and active-lifestyle gear. A freelancer is pitched on a new windbreaker, says he’s interested, but really wants to check it out. A sample is sent to the reporter who writes a fair critique which is published with no mention of how the gear was obtained. And the clothing is never returned… nor was it expected to be. Was the reporter accepting a subtle bribe… or asking for one?

THE TRAVEL WRITER: They’re called “fam trips”, or “familiarization trips”, but they’re hardly the kind of travel we peons enjoy. When a travel writer visits a destination, it’s all expenses paid and often first class. Yet, the glowing reports written on the adventure never disclose that the reporter was comp’ed and that his hosts knew he was a reporter, giving him VIP treatment. (One might argue that the food critic or theater critic who accepts a free meal or tickets without disclosing it is similarly fraudulent.)

Are these examples of entrapment, or just PR and marketers exploiting the greed of so-called journalists?

We all know that most real news organizations have rules against accepting gratuities. When I was at NBC News, there was no “free lunch”. And Conde Nast Traveler makes its writers always pay their own way. But for every NBC and CNT, there’s a dozen other cable networks and wannabe travel magazines. For the PR weasel looking to buy a good story, there are always other opportunities.

Eventually, the media and marketing malfeasants will be shown for what they are. When the truth comes out, the public will vote with its wallets… the new beauty product won’t be all its hyped to be, the disease award will be just another plaque and the travel writer’s review will be understood to be transparently hyped.

Consumers aren’t stupid. But maybe we are for thinking there’s always another way of buying their attention.
###

JIM CAMERON has spent almost 30 years in broadcasting and PR. Following a career at NBC News where he received a George Foster Peabody award, he launched his own consultancy, Cameron Communications Inc., based in Darien CT which specializes in media training. More information about his firm can be found at www.mediatrainer.tv

“Fear and Self-Loathing In Pharma-land”

2005-05-07T16:41:00.000-05:00

The PRSA Health Academy Meets in DC

By Jim Cameron, Cameron Communications Inc.

(Washington DC – May 5-6, 2005): Over 200 PR professionals in healthcare began their meeting in Washington in a self-deprecating mood. Billed as “Regaining Public Confidence in the Healthcare Industry”, attendees knew what they were in for. This meeting would be akin to a meeting of nuclear engineers right after Three Mile Island almost had a meltdown.

The morning began with a high-carb feast of danish and bagels, comfort food for the afflicted. Presenter after presenter reminded the attendees that recent public opinion polls ranked Pharma only slightly higher than tobacco companies and oil barons in terms of credibility. Wanting so badly to be loved, the PR folks couldn’t understand what had gone wrong.

Why do Americans think drugs are over-priced? Why don’t they understand the $800 million cost of bringing new drugs to market? Why don’t they appreciate that all Rx drugs have some risk? How is a VNR or SMT different than a press release? Why don’t they love us anymore!!

“We must be transparent”

The word of the day was “transparency”, the current euphemism for “telling the truth”. Keynoter Dr. Bernadine Healey (former director of NIH, The American Red Cross and now a USN&WR columnist) accused Pharma of “opacity” in refusing to reveal its drug pricing policies under the guise of protecting trade secrets. She said in her recent work on an Ohio Medicaid panel she was unable to find the true cost of the top ten Rx drugs in her state. Pharma refused to reveal the pricing.

True, making drugs is expensive. But why do American patients pay most of the cost? “We should spread drug development costs across other developed nations,” she said, singling out the French as a ready target of shifting costs away from US consumers. If they paid more for Rx drugs, Americans wouldn’t have to.

As attendees dined on red meat and humble pie, she said that Pharma should stop pandering to doc’s. (Indigestion seemed imminent as we all reached for our Tums).

Working with Docs

“We need to build an alliance with doctors, not pander to them with pens, free dinners and golf.” A couple of Pharma folks looked in need of the Heimlich maneuver. But her harshest words were for doc’s sitting on review panels considering drugs in which they had a financial self-interest. Case in point, the recent cholesterol recommendations from a panel of docs all of whom, except one, had a financial interest in statins.

But Healey stunned the conference with her pronouncements on counterfeit drugs. “Canadian drugs aren’t dirty,” she said, teasing her column next week in which she promised to detail Pharma’s “dirty little secret”… that 1% of all US drugs are phony. The FDA has no authority to audit the “grey market” that distributes 10% of all Rx drugs in the US, she said. (Author Katherine Eban’s book “Dangerous Doses” also due next week, she says, will “tell all”.)

Healey said that, instead of waiting for the FDA to tell them they must, Pharma should embrace tracking technologies like RFID and get ahead of this counterfeiting crisis.

Asked by this reporter what she thought of the media’s overall coverage of healthcare, Dr. Healey tossed bouquets to her fifth-estate buddies. “I think 98% of it is wonderful! And God… I love those bloggers!”

“I love those bloggers”

In my panel I spoke of journalists’ newest tools… blogs, RSS and Google News… as they search for fresh angles and sources on stories. Most attendees knew nothing of the millions of e-opinions sloshing thru cyberspace waiting for curious reporters to find them. Nor had they thought about patient activists, or even phony bloggers, who can trash a company in anonymity and have their opinions dished up online alongside AP and Reuters clips. Mainstream media may not be dead, but it seems on life support.

In the exhibit area, the VNR production house DS Simon acknowledged that, yes, it is harder to get airtime for VNR’s since it was disclosed that the Federal government had spent $250 million on VNR production aired (willingly, I might note) by stations under the guise of “news”. (Full disclosure: I have narrated VNR’s for many clients. They say I have the ‘perfect face’ for audio work.)

Conference attendees’ tight muscles and sore backs, provoked by the angst-filled morning sessions, were eased at VoxMedica’s exhibit booth with free Swedish massages. (Yes, I had one… but no danish!)

If misery loves company, PR pro’s took consolation in the comments of Dr. Stuart Seides, past-President of the Medical Society of DC. Bemoaning the presence in the doctor’s office of invisible representatives of managed care, second guessing the docs’ every move, Dr. Seides referred to attorneys as “an internal terrorist organization that’s a worse threat to freedom than Al Quida.”

Why are they all out to get us? Are we paranoid or is this all just a bad dream?

Healthcare Ethics: Not An Oxymoron

An afternoon panel on “Healthcare Ethics & Politics” heard more confessions and self-loathings. Edward Allera of DC’s Buchanan Ingersoll PC said Pharma wasn’t being open and honest. “My (Pharma) clients get phase one results that look promising and say ‘We should run with this’, but I have to remind them that they never reported on four other trials that were duds.”

Again, transparency seemed the salve that could cure the credibility rash. Heads nodded as we dined on an afternoon coffee-break of brownies, cookies and coffee and got sugared-up for the final panels of the day.

“We’re not doing enough to explain the risk-benefit ratio to the public,” said Jessica Stollenberg of Wyeth. I asked how that could be done with package inserts in 5 point type that nobody, especially the elderly, could even read.

Playing on the theme of “transparency”; I asked the ethics panel if doctors being used by Pharma as spokespersons should be asked to reveal that they were being paid an honorarium. (Full disclosure: I media train many of those docs for Pharma clients, but always ask them that question in role playing. They always struggle with an answer).

“Reporters know that doc’s are being paid,” said Stollenberg. “I just don’t think the public understands why.” Why, indeed? “We can’t expect a cardiologist who makes a half-million to do an interview for less than $5K,” she added. I noted that when they do CME dinner-talks, docs must disclose their “consulting relationships” and that if financial analysts can be quizzed on CNBC about conflicts of interest, shouldn’t docs expect the same in interviews?

Why don’t they love us? Why are reporters so adversarial and proctological?

According to one seasoned vet, it all comes down to jealousy in our classless society.

Are Reporters Jealous?

As former Wellpoint PR-czar Ken Ferber put it on an earlier panel… reporters don’t make a lot of money. Their companies are being downsized and they’re now expected to do more work for the same, or less, pay. “They can’t write about their (media) company officers’ pay scales, so they (take it out) on us.”

They say an army marches on its stomach. This well-run, thought provoking day of discussions seemed powered by caffeine and adrenaline. But an evening reception at a trendy Potomac-side restaurant saw a mad dash to the two open bars. The food was good and I watched two complete smoked salmon get inhaled by the throngs as Day One drew to a fitting close.

Day Two’s weather matched the mood… cold and cloudy. Gone was the fresh hint of spring. It was back to the winter of our discontent.

Somebody in catering got the message that this was a healthcare conference, so the breakfast carb-fest was augmented with fresh fruit… appropriate fare, given the first panel of the day on the obesity crisis.

The Obesity Crisis

Department of H&HS PR guy Kevin Keane showed off his Ad Council campaign “Small Steps” with some extremely funny PSA’s aimed at getting people off their butts. “There’s no guilt, no attacks on foods and no diets,” he said, noting the campaign is second only to Homeland Security spots in airplay. One wonders which is the bigger threat… Osama or Oreos?

But just as it sounded like the Fed’s were finally talking about maintaining wellness, not just fighting illness, our HHS speaker made a Freudian slip. “When I lose ten pounds I feel a lot better,” said Keane. “Of course, then I put it back on.” Step away from the danish, Kevin!

Next up, the bravest panelist of the day… Terri Capatosto from McDonalds, celebrating its 50th anniversary with some stunning stats: 2.4 million customers (“guests”) a day, 13,000 US restaurants and 1.5 million employees. The average American eats four meals a month at Mickey-D’s, and now they’re eating more than McNuggets and fries.

Spun by McDonalds

Attendees were all offered samples of the newest in healthier fare… the “Fruit and Walnut Salad” with yogurt. Capatosto says it’s very popular with women who enjoy the “fruit buzz” it gives them. That sounded like a drug reference to me, but it was mighty tasty, though I didn’t need the candied walnuts which added 6 grams of carbs to my Atkins-attentive personal diet. (Full disclosure: I’ve dropped 60+ pounds on Atkins in a year and it wasn’t with any help from Ronald!)

With ‘nary a mention of the attack-documentary “Supersize Me” and only passing reference to McDonald’s recent controversial consulting deal with one-time critic, Dr. Dean Ornish (akin to GM hiring Ralph Nader to design a new car), the lady from McDonalds dished up a series of TV spots showing new role models for kids… hyperactive little 4 year olds bouncing off the walls who looked to be candidates for Ritalin as much as poster-kids for getting more exercise.

We’d been spun, and we loved it. Rather than speak of the PR challenge of overcoming years of negative PR, Capatosto had us all munching on apple slices and thinking that Ronald McDonald was looking a little less paunchy these days. I was stunned, but enjoying my “fruit buzz”.

“Motivational speaker” Mike Meyerheim was next up, sharing his story of a 14 month journey from 412 pounds to 208 as highlighted with his 15 minutes of fame on Dr. Phil. We were stunned. Who let this guy in? Here was a real person, not a flack or government weasel. And he wasn’t selling us anything. His was a great story, without a catch, and that was refreshing indeed.

Softball question of the day came from somebody who asked Capatosto; “Do you sometimes feel McDonalds is a scapegoat for Americans’ bad eating habits?” And 50 points to her for not starting her answer with “I’m glad you asked that…”

The session adjourned and we headed for the coffee break, sheepishly gobbling the muffins and fruit. No time for exercise, though.

Picking Up The Pieces

The next session was excellent… “Conversion After a Crisis”. Conversion? Religious? AC to DC? No, reputation repair. Picking up the pieces.

Larry Kamer from Manning Selvage & Lee was scary-smart, noting that the Chinese symbol for the word crisis was two thoughts: risk on top of opportunity. Favorite quote: “There are three words that, when they’re all together, really frighten me: media training doctors.” Tell me about it!

Chris Thomas of The Intrepid Group told of his work handing the family of Jessica Smart after her abduction. “Working with the media in a crisis is a lot like obedience-training a dog. You need touch, tone and training.” His seven-point plan was brilliant. Ask him for his slides.

David Henry from TeleNoticias rounded out the panel with some sage advice on the care and feeding of the broadcast media in a crisis: have B roll ready and get it blessed in advance by your lawyers in case it gets subpoenaed afterwards.

Good information. No dumb questions. And no self-loathing. What happened? Could we be ending on an up-note? Not quite.

The Media Talks Back

The luncheon panel had us back on the steady diet of self-loathing as the actual members of the media took center stage. Had their ears been burning from all we’d said about them in day one? Apparently not. While we dined on chicken, they’d obviously had their red meat as, tanked up on adrenaline, they literally bit the hand that had just fed them.

“The Pharma industry is its own worst enemy,” said John Carey of Business Week (a recipient of three different degrees in science, according to his bio). “The industry’s bad press is well-deserved, whether its generic conversion shenanigans, hyping off-label use or pricing.”

Industry cheerleader Rex Rhein from “Scrip” said his publication was mostly read by Pharma executives. I guess it’s sort of like prescription drugs. “Anybody can buy Scrip, but only Pharma exec’s can afford it.” Rex made sure we all got a free copy of the UK-based trade. I noted that annual subscriptions were $1785. I guess we won’t be reading much of Rex’s work after today.

Trying to lighten the tone of the panel, Novartis moderator Bob Laverty showed a “Simpsons” clip which poked fun at drug costs. If the truth hurts, satire stings, but we all had a good chuckle.

Not fair, cried Marilyn Serafin of The National Journal. Did the “Simpsons” satirize drug costs because of media coverage, or did the media pick up on the issue because the cartoon writers shoved it in their face? “Does the media reflect society or influence it,” she asked.

Hello!?! Isn’t the operative issue here that Rx drugs are expensive and we can’t explain why?

Unanswered Questions

Reflecting on the two day conference, I realize that question was often asked, but never answered. There were plenty of senior Pharma exec’s in attendance and loads of their PR counselors, but none of them tackled the question every American wants answered. It was as if we should all know the answer and didn’t need to ask. Or, maybe it’s because we’re afraid to ask because we know the answer. So much for transparency.

As we quaffed our umpteenth cups of Starbucks high-test, Washington Post writer Fran Kritz told us she loves her job, seeing her role really as one of being an informer. “My husband asks why I don’t go work for a Pharma company. I like being a reporter,” she said. “But I wouldn’t mind that (Pharma) pay scale.”

Gosh golly gee. Ken Ferber was right after all. These pesky reporters really are jealous. Imagine if they knew about the honoraria the docs they interview were getting. (Full disclosure: like me, the reporters all got thank-you gifts for appearing on the panel… Waterman ballpoint pens with a PRSA logo.)

Alas, I had to bail before the final sessions of the afternoon, so I didn’t get to hear the panel defending use of celebrity spokespeople or the academic who was going to address rebuilding employee morale. My morale was long gone. I was drained. I missed the end-of-day raffle for the gift certificates to SpaFinder and GNC.

This report is by no means comprehensive as I missed more panels than I attended, but I have tried to capture the mood and color of the meeting. All quotes are as accurate as possible.
I met some interesting people. The panels were good, though over-packed with speakers and, often, long-winded moderators. The topics were timely. But God it feels good that it’s over. Any more self-criticism and we’d all need therapy, not just Swedish massage.

JIM CAMERON
Cameron Communications Inc.
web: www.mediatrainer.tv
e-mail: jim@mediatrainer.tv
voice: 203-655-0138

"PR's Myths About Media" - Fall 1998

2005-05-07T16:35:00.000-05:00

“PR’s Myths About the Media”

by Jim Cameron, Cameron Communications Inc. http://www.mediatrainer.tv/

You're not just imagining it
There's always been a certain love-hate relationship between the media and the PR community. They need each other for survival, yet they often express anger and surprise that they don't understand each other better.

For 12 years since I started JFORUM - The Journalism Forum on CompuServe we have explored these "Flack vs. Hack" tensions, most recently in a message thread titled "PR's Media Myths." I invited our 40,000 members (reporters, freelance writers, editors, photographers and non-fiction authors) to share what they think are the PR community's biggest misunderstandings of how journalists operate.

The full message thread runs to 100+ postings and is still growing. I invite you to log onto CompuServe, GO JFORUM and read them all... adding your thoughts as well! What follows are some of the highlights.

Myth #1: Didja Get It?
Nothing irks reporters more than getting phone calls from PR folks asking, "did you get my fax"? One Silicon Valley-based TV reporter said "I get up to 200 faxes per day" and queries like "did you get my fax" provoke him to tell callers he will drop everything he is doing, find "their" fax and rip it to shreds on the phone.
"The US Postal Service and fax machines generally work," noted one industry observer. In other words, they got your fax! If they're not calling you, it's because they're not interested in what you're pitching. Don't make them angrier by reminding them why. "The whole routine about faxes, FedEx and calls to 'make sure you got' something you never wanted in the first place not only is unnecessary but often is counterproductive," put one reporter succinctly.

Myth #2: Misplaced Pitches
A targeted pitch of a story idea will be appreciated. But a shotgun approach generally wounds more parties than it hits head-on. Being ignorant of who you are pitching -- the format of their show, their target audience, etc. -- can really annoy reporters.
An editor for Aviation Daily recalls a pitch that started with the PR "pro" asking, "How often does your publication come out?"
If you can't look at your media guide and put yourself in the reporters' shoes when pitching your client's product/issue/expert, you're wasting your and the reporter's time. Do your homework and target your calls.

Myth #3: "We Bought An Ad"
If you think there's tension between PR and the media, try asking a reporter how he gets along with his station/publication's advertising salespeople. Reporters know that the ads pay the bills, but they ferociously resent a PR person reminding them that their client has an ad running in the same issue/show as the story they're hoping to place with them. And to suggest that an ad somehow entitles their client to better news coverage sends them into a rage.
One reporter said that "anytime a PR person mentions advertising (when pitching me) I put them on hold and switch them to the sales manager's office."
Advertising is bought and paid for and guarantees you placement. Readers know those facts and take your advertising message with a grain of salt. News coverage, on the other hand, is based on the reporter's evaluation of its importance. But being "news" is more credible to the reader/viewer. And it's free. "If flacks don't understand this," wrote one wag, "they should go into advertising."

Myth #4: Calling on Deadline
Even the best-targeted pitch can miss the mark if made at the wrong time. When reporters are under the gun to finish writing or producing just before deadline, there's little chance of getting their attention.
"In all the time I worked on daily (evening news) shows, PR people who had the temerity to call me between four and five p.m. got nowhere," said one TV producer. Or put more positively, a former staffer on PBS's "Nightly Business Report" said he always liked the calls from PR pro's that started with "Is this a good time to talk?" If it not, that pitcher would find a time that was.

Myth #5: Wrong Number
Our TV reporter friend in Silicon Valley tells of the time that some PR person's auto-dialing fax machine kept calling his voice mail rather than his fax machine. "The resulting overload shut down my voice mail overnight," perhaps missing important messages. When the reporter got to work and found what had happened, he plugged his fax into his voice line, got the fax on the umpteenth retry and called the offending sender to read her the riot act.

Myth #6: Rolodex Roulette
This was a new one on us. A high tech trade reporter says a PR firm for a major computer company passed along the name of a person she suggested he interview as a user of her client's product. But when the reporter called, the man refused to talk! Apologetic, the flack thumbed through her Rolodex and offered a second expert. Same reaction... "no comment".
As this reporter (who actually wanted to take the PR pro's pitch!) put it: "the PR agent can't merely parcel out names. I'd rather deal with the PR rep who makes sure the interviewee wants to talk to the press, then gets on the line with them to introduce the two of us and set the stage for the interview."

This is just a small sampling of opinion from the JFORUM thread. I hope you'll take the comments in the same positive spirit most of our journalist members offered them -- an attempt to help the PR and Media communities understand each other a bit better.

© 1998 Cameron Communications Inc.

"The Truth (At Last!) About Journalists - Spring 2000

2005-05-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

“The Truth (At Last!) About Journalists”

by Jim Cameron, Cameron Communications Inc. http://www.mediatrainer.tv/

At the risk of alienating myself from my journalist friends, it’s time to come clean and share with you the truth about this profession.

Having worked as a reporter for many years, both at NBC News and in print, and having operated JFORUM - The Online Press Club since 1985, I know of what I speak. It’s my hope that, by better understanding what makes these muckrakers tick, you’ll have a better chance of pitching your story to them.

CYNICISM: In J-school you’re taught to trust no one. “If your Mama says she loves you,
check it out,” is the maxim by which reporters live. Almost anything you say to a reporter will be met with skepticism. “Prove it,” they’ll say. And when you do, they’ll ask, “So?
Why should I care?” When pitching your story, anticipate that cynicism. Come
armed with statistics, examples, anecdotes and third-party endorsements of your message. Offer your proof without being asked.

MULTI-TASKING: Reporters are often working three or four stories simultaneously. Their attention span rivals that of a three year-old. They hate getting calls from PR “flacks” asking “did you get my fax?” and similar time wasters. When talking with a reporter, get to the point. Don’t waste your time or theirs.

LAZINESS: Given their workload and attention span, they’ll often take your story verbatim if the release (see above) is well written. Rather than struggle to understand the
intricacies of your business, they’ll go for the top-line message. “Don’t bother me with the facts, I’ve got my story” is often their attitude. Present your message in catchy sound bites and bullet-points. Don’t inundate the reporter with thick press packets when a page or two will suffice.

LIBERAL: Reporters who tell you they’re not a little to the left of center are lying …
to you or to themselves. Many enter the profession because they want to “change the world” or “help people.” They see themselves as missionaries and do-gooders, though you’ll seldom find them volunteering for public service. Appeal to this sense of
public interest in your pitch. “What your readers will want to know” often grabs their attention. Don’t try to convert reporters. Instead, use them to persuade their audience.

UNDERPAID: Nobody gets into journalism for the money. There isn’t any. Recent
surveys have shown that major market print and broadcast reporters make less than $50,000. And those behind the scenes (i.e., not on the air or by-lined) make much less. This plays into their Robin Hood mentality Be careful about talking money when you’re
pitching. What you might consider affordable could be seen by the journalist (and their audience!) as a luxury. Stress your product’s benefits over its cost.

ETHICAL: At most media outlets, reporters cannot be “bought”… neither by a free lunch nor an outright bribe. Having taken the “vow of poverty,” journalists will pillory one of their own who gives even the appearance of being paid-off. Employers dictate that holiday gifts can seldom exceed $25 in value. Some reporters won’t even accept a cup of coffee. Though possibly apocryphal, the story is told of the young reporter attending his first “press party.” Feeling guilty as he gawked at the orgy of free food and drink, the reporter said to the PR host, “I feel like a prostitute.” To which the flack replied, “Sorry! It wasn’t in the budget this year.”

COMPETITIVE: They all want to be first with a story. They want to scoop their rivals and bask in the spotlight—even if it means violating their unwritten code of ethics. If they can’t squeeze a comment out of you, they may trick you into giving it. Always assume you’re “on the record”, even when it seems the interview is over. Don’t discuss confidential information or leave tempting documents on your desk when being interviewed. Reporters can read upside-down. And the casual chat as you escort a reporter to the door could lead to a headline.

INCESTUOUS: Nobody consumes more media than reporters. They’re constantly monitoring radio, TV and print competitors, playing catch-up. They hate getting beaten to a story, so try to play fair and not grant exclusives. More than any other media, print is where true journalism occurs. Radio and TV just repackage what they’ve seen in the newspapers. So get your story placed in print first, and the other coverage will follow.

© 2000 Cameron Communications, Inc.
55 Dubois Street, Darien CT 06820-5224

"Less News, More Often" - Spring 1999

2005-05-07T16:31:00.000-05:00

“Less News, More Often”

by Jim Cameron, Cameron Communications Inc. http://www.mediatrainer.tv/

Check your local newspaper, first under the movie listings. How many different movies are
playing at your local multiplex cinema? There may be 10 screens, but chances are you'll see only 4 or 5 different films, each being offered at multiple starting times.

Now, look at your TV listings. Does your "110 channel" cable system really offer that many different, unique program sources? Or do you find multiple outlets often carrying the same shows. Since the bean counters and efficiency experts took over TV news, amortization of expenses has been the buzzword. Why air a correspondent's report from Kosovo just once on the evening news? Why not repackage it and re-air it several times in multiple
formats?

Did you miss "Dateline" the other night on NBC? Don't worry. Stone Phillips will be back with the very same program on MSNBC as "Weekend Magazine". Are you a real fan of Brian Williams? Catch his evening news at 9pm on MSNBC or replayed immediately at 10pm on CNBC. Want to watch reruns of "60 Minutes" and see Ed Bradley before he
could wear his earring on-air? Just tune in CBS's feeble attempt at a cable channel, "Eye On People".

The bottom line? The technological promise of unlimited choice and varied sources for news and information has not yet been achieved. We're still stuck with the same handful of sources, each masquerading in multiple identities. As Bruce Springsteen put it: "There's 57 channels and nothin' on."

The Incredible Shrinking News Hole

To viewers and readers these days it often seems there is only one story in the news. Be it Monica Lewinsky, Kosovo or the Littleton Massacre, more and more news time is eaten up with fewer and fewer stories.

In many cases, cable stations like MSNBC or CNN use such mega-stories as branding opportunities, hoping their extensive, near-exclusive coverage of such stories will given them a unique identity in viewers' minds. Mention Geraldo Rivera, and what comes to mind? OJ Simpson's murder trial, of course. But such wall-to-wall coverage really leaves me wondering: Is that all that's going on? As important as those stories may be, do they deserve such intense coverage to the exclusion of everything else in the world?

What dastardly deeds perpetrated by bureaucrats and CEO's go unreported? What sour earnings report, environmental impact study or product recall did we miss because Brian Williams wanted to show us footage of Columbine High School for the 99th time?

If this is frustrating to me, imagine how serious journalists feel? Toiling for days or weeks to ferret (Continued on page 2) out a great story they're told there is no air-time to tell
it. Or how about the PR pro's whose big press event, scheduled weeks in advance, suddenly vies for media attention with a school shooting or political sex scandal?

It used to be that PR professionals would avoid the "sweeps week" ratings-hyping theatrics of TV news, preferring to seek coverage on the quieter, more rational un-rated weeks. But now that wisdom seems moot as every day is a ratings race with programmers
vying for viewers however they can.

At the risk of recycling myself, let me share something I wrote a year ago on these pages:
"TV news is like soap. We all use it, but it doesn't leave much of an impression. We are all
awash in infotainment, and the transitory media... TV and radio... are here, then gone in an instant. TV has tremendous "reach", but its impact is often minimal.

In PR the bigger and more important challenge is getting your story in print. That's where the real journalism is practiced today."

‘Less News’ Demands Creative PR Tactics

So, what’s a PR pro to do? How can you best serve your clients' needs given these conditions? Here are a few ideas:

== Don't shotgun your story to all media. Chose a target audience and be laser-beam precise in delivering your message via focused publications, trade and consumer, and websites.

== Don't waste clients' money producing packaged VNR's. They'll only run verbatim in smaller markets. Instead, concentrate on creative b-roll, graphics and newsmaker soundbites. Let the station build their own story using your elements.

== Think local. A satellite media tour or telephone radio-tour can garner far more airtime and recall than 15 seconds on "Good Morning America".

== Work harder at educating your clients that these strategies are worthwhile. Help them understand the wisdom of print over TV, local over national. A guest shot on channel 5 in Boise isn't really "a placement on CBS in Boise". It's just a local station, which is fine.
Don't over-promise or imply that Dan Rather is then going to pick up your story. The local shot may not seem as sexy as the network, but it'll be far more effective... if Boise cares about your message.

== Stop hyping your results. I've seen client reports claiming tens of millions of impressions for a product as a result of VNR's, SMT's and print placements. Don't inflate viewer attention that wasn't there. Instead, track sales. Show that products moved off the shelf in markets where your PR was focused. "Eye balls" just view, but shoppers buy.

== Stay current. Read everything. Surf the web. Know how to use technology for fun and it'll be a tool in a crisis. Travel. Get out of your daily rut. See the world through others' eyes. Eat your vegetables. Take naps. Laugh. And, oh yeah, call Cameron Communications when you need help preparing your media strategies.

© 1999 Cameron Communications Inc.