Media Training Worldwide’s TJ Walker Gives Insights On Public speaking & Media Training

TJ’s Insights

April 19, 2005

New Books, TJ Walker’s “Media Training A-Z”
http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/mediatrainingaz.html
“Presentation Training A-Z” http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/presentaz.html

There’s No Taking Back Words After They Have Left Your Mouth

Here is an actual exchange between a journalist and a European business executive that quickly went sour, all because the business executive failed to understand one basic principle of media relations: you have 100% control over what you say, but 0% control over what a reporter writes. You should never try to control a journalist by claiming that you are withdrawing their rights to use your name and quotes. That will only anger the reporter and make you an object of scorn and ridicule. If you don’t want to see something quoted, then don’t say it in the first place.

Here is the executive’s clumsy attempt at controlling the journalist.

Dear (Name of interviewee withheld),

I find your e-mail unnecessarily aggressive. You asked me not to use it and there is no reason I would do so. I sent a reply to the second e-mail I received and I guess I interpreted that as a response to both.

Just for future reference, not all journalists will give you the opportunity to review your quotes. I did it in view of the relationship between *deleted* Magazine and *deleted* and because I want my story to be accurate. Had you said that to another journalist, it could have ended up in print: You have no control over what I write, but you have 100% control over what you say.

(Name of journalist withheld)

Dear (Name of journalist withheld)

Thank you for replying to the email on my title. You have been silent on my request [see below]. If you do not wish to accept my request I withdraw the right for you to quote me at all or even mention my name in your article, If I do not receive confirmation of what you chose to do I will be obliged to contact the editor in question. If it appears as is I will take action.

Many thanks

(Name of interviewee withheld)

Dear (Name of journalist withheld)

Please see my annotations below....My lousy reference is a little strong and I would appreciate your amending...other than that no problems

Many thanks

(Name of interviewee withheld)

Hello (Name of interviewee withheld),

Thanks again for speaking to me about de-registration.

I would like to choose from the following quotes when writing my story. Please make any corrections of facts you need to, but please do not change for style, grammar or to make the quote sound better.

Thanks.

(Name of journalist withheld)

Information disclosures and corporate governance practices are not better in Europe than the US. (Corporate governance here is lousy) [This is too strong please delete] . We’ve got a long way to go.

There may be US investors willing to invest in Europe because corporate governance is on the up, but many institutional investors are restricted from investing on other markets.

On the way out, there is no statistical difference based on the nation the company. It would hurt a UK company as much as one from China. The data do not show any national difference.

It is hard work, but don’t forget that your domestic shareholders are benefiting from it.

For those companies that have been put off by the one-way street that a US listing appears to be, making it easier to get out would have the advantage of being one less impediment.

The benefits of the ADR accrue mainly to the domestic shareholder. De-listing is a defensive move that doesn’t send the right signals.

Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, do your editing BEFORE you ever talk to the reporter. That way, you will be in complete control.

Do you need a keynote speaker? http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/keynote.html

Please visit the Media Training Worldwide store at http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/learningtoolsonlinestore.html

Media and presentation training workshops http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/workshopcalendar.html

If you have not already subscribed to this newsletter and would like to do so, please send blank email to tj1-62591@autocontactor.com

Author of Media Training A-Z
& Presentation Training A-Z

TJ Walker
Media Training Worldwide
212-764-4955

Media Training Worldwide provides more media and presentation training workshops and seminars (54 separate courses) than any other company in the world. Media Training Worldwide also publishes more than 100 presentation training books, DVDs, CDs, and other information products and is the largest presentation/media training publisher in the world. For a product catalog or more information on training services call 800-755-7220 or visit http://mediatrainingworldwide.com/mediatrainingcatalogapril2004.pdf.

Media Training Worldwide
110 West 40th Street
Suite 203
New York, NY 10018
212-764-4955
www.mediatrainingworldwide.com

May Re-Print without permission IF you provide a link to Media Training Worldwide at http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com and 212-764-4955.