Articles

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...

What should you do before briefing the media on a breaking story? Do your homework by gathering the facts, developing your key messages and practicing the delivering of them. Afterall, the last thing you want to do is make a factual mistake that misleads the media. Ah, but even the best prepared communicators might make an error. If that happens,...

In a social climate where good and evil are sometimes confused, a strong communicator should provide clarity that leads an audience to the right conclusion. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro did just that when he and others announced a suspect’s arrest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The suspect was apprehended at a...

Is it a good look to get so angry during an interview that you rip off your microphone or earpiece, get up and stomp off while still on camera? Absolutely not! Even if you feel a reporter is treating you unfairly during an interview, you should strive to maintain your composure. If you don’t, any messages you have delivered will get lost and your...

Sudden tragedy can strike like a thief in the night. And when it does, keeping emotions in check while speaking to the community is a challenge for even the most gifted communicators. When Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia was killed in a warehouse fire, Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz addressed the media soon after the death was...

The Terri Ammerman Group always advises our clients to develop clear, concise messages that leave no room for misunderstanding. With Hurricane Milton bearing down on the coast of Florida, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor delivered perhaps the bluntest message we have ever heard. With much of Tampa under a mandatory evacuation order, Castor was interviewed...

Losing composure while speaking in public is seldom a good look. When people get angry during an interview or a public meeting, their credibility takes a hit and their messages get lost. In other words, their outburst becomes the news. We found a perfect example of this during a public meeting of the Harris County Commissioner’s Court, the...

One of the most common mistakes made during interviews is to bluff your way through a response to a question you were not expecting and really don’t know how to answer. Bluffing almost always makes you look bad and often leads to sound bites that obscures key messages. You can avoid this pitfall by starting your response with something like, “I...

One of the most common mistakes made during interviews is to bluff your way through a response to a question you were not expecting and really don’t know how to answer. Bluffing almost always makes you look bad and often leads to sound bites that obscures key messages. You can avoid this pitfall by starting your response with something like, “I...