Articles

It was the interview heard around the world, or at least all over social media. Bill Belichick, the former New England Patriots head coach, was being interviewed on CBS about his new book and other topics. About two-thirds of the way through the interview, the 73-year-old Belichick was asked questions about his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon...

What should you do when a crisis hits your company or organization? Retired Admiral William McRaven answers that question in his new book Conquering Crisis. McRaven, the former Navy Seal leader who oversaw the mission to kill or capture Osama bin Laden, argues a crisis should be met head-on without significant delay. While McRaven is not...

In any media encounter, one of your goals is to express positive quotes and soundbites that will enhance the standing of your company or organization. But you can sabotage your messages by repeating negative words used by a reporter during an interview or news conference. Reporters love negative words because they often make for catchy...

Why do many politicians drive us crazy when we watch their interviews? It’s simple. They often fail to answer or even acknowledge questions before delivering messages and talking points. It’s almost as if they didn’t hear the questions. Case in point is a CNN interview with Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore. He was asked if he agreed with...

Let’s say you’re being interviewed by a reporter or taking questions from the public during a community meeting. You get a question that includes the word “guarantee” in it. Alarm bells should go off in your head and a red flag should be waving in your mind. You are now facing the guarantee trap. You don’t want to step into it by repeating the...

Here we go again. A hot mic embarrasses another public figure. It’s astounding how often people who should know better get careless around microphones and cameras. The latest incident involves Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw. After just completing a taped television interview, Crenshaw gets himself into trouble by casually suggesting he would end...

When you are preparing for a news briefing or any media encounter, it’s imperative that you understand what will keep your audience of journalists engaged. The last thing you want to do is bore or distract reporters, which could keep them from absorbing your key messages and communicating them to the public. So, we were stunned when we viewed a...

When you are standing before microphones, cameras, and reporters, it’s natural to try to provide as much information as possible about a sudden crisis or catastrophe. In doing so, it may be tempting to speculate about the cause of the tragedy or who may be at fault. If you find yourself in that situation, fight and defeat the temptation to...

With the death toll rising and destructive flames spreading in Los Angeles County and beyond, the blame game is also gaining momentum. Some blame the horrific fires on inattention to climate change. Others point the finger at public officials for sloppy water management, budget cutbacks and lack of foresight. A Republican office holder in the...

The Los Angeles County wildfire inferno has sparked debates over climate change, home insurance costs, and water management. These are legitimate issues that should be addressed. But as the fires burn, as more and more people lose their homes, the immediate primary focus should be on extinguishing the flames and on the people who will have to...