Articles

A contentious issue, angry people, and impassioned opinions are the recipe for a public meeting that can spiral out of control. That is what happened when a debate over defunding police led to an emotional disruption of the Norman, Oklahoma City Council meeting. Here is a short clip of the unfortunate scene: How can a public meeting melee be...

Remember the classic Abbott & Costello “Who’s on First” routine? Referring to a baseball team, Lou Costello keeps asking Bud Abbott who’s playing first base. Abbott responds “Who” because “Who” is the actual name of the first baseman. The answer leaves Costello totally bamboozled. If you are not familiar with this routine, we recommend you...

When asked an unexpected difficult question, The Terri Ammerman Group believes a short pause of five to seven seconds can make you appear thoughtful before you give an answer. This week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took that concept to a new level when he waited 21 seconds before answering a question about President Trump’s handling of...

You are participating in a zoom meeting or being interviewed remotely at home. Your tendency may be to slump in your chair, dress sloppily and look away from the camera. All are mistakes you should not repeat. Virtual Visual. It is not just a tongue twister. It should be a strong reminder that the way you look in virtual communications is just as...

As we all adjust to the new normal brought on by this historic pandemic, we wish good health to you and your family. We all share the same priority of keeping our employees and ourselves safe. We know that Covid-19 has created challenges in the way you communicate with the media, your clients, co-workers, and many others. And The Terri Ammerman...

As New Zealand begins to open part of its economy, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is not relaxing her social distancing orders for the public or herself. In describing her own experience during a remote interview, Ardern displays her good nature, sending a message that is relatable and comforting. It also gives her credibility when she emphasizes...

There is nothing like a great analogy, example, or personal story to help communicators launch their messages during a presentation or interview. During an interview from the International Space Station with Stephen Colbert, astronaut Jessica Meir offered guidance to everyone coping with pandemic social distancing by comparing it to her own...

As a public health expert and a highly skilled communicator, Dr. Anthony Fauci is viewed as one of the most trusted figures in the fight against COVID-19. But even talented and experienced communicators like Fauci can talk themselves into trouble by answering hypothetical questions that call for speculation. He stumbled into that trap when asked...

Can a British royal appeal to common men and women when reading from a prepared statement about COVID-19? Prince Charles answered that question with a resounding “yes” in a video message that is resonating well beyond the United Kingdom. Speaking from the perspective of someone who fell ill to the coronavirus, Prince Charles rose to the occasion...

Seldom has a crisis affected so many Americans as the Coronavirus pandemic. The crisis has left countless government officials at all levels scrambling to confront Covid 19 and to develop accurate, concise messages they can deliver to the public. With New York suffering the most cases and deaths of any state by far, Governor Andrew Cuomo has been...