Articles

The Terri Ammerman Group pairs decades of communications and media experience with relevant, current perspective. We understand the ever-changing needs and scenarios faced by companies, executives, and media professionals. Part of our training involves examining communications scenarios in real-time, so participants can clearly see what to avoid when speaking and what to say when delivering a clear, convincing message. Our team regularly offers perspective and insights on current situations through the articles posted here.

Hot Mic Strikes Again!

Hot Mic Strikes Again!

It never ceases to amaze us when an experienced public figure, accustomed to being surrounded by the media, falls into the hot microphone trap. It happens often, usually to the detriment of the person who seems unaware his or her voice is being picked up by a hot mic. In this latest case, President Biden engages in a conversation with the Mayor...

Educate First, Influence Second

Educate First, Influence Second

Does your company want to have a positive influence on your community? If there’s a crisis involving your firm or organization, do you want those impacted to have confidence you have the right people, doing the right things, at the right time? Of course, you do! But establishing that reliable reputation doesn’t just happen. In short, you have to...

Setting the Ground Rules

Setting the Ground Rules

So, you are preparing for a crisis news briefing or a public meeting in which you expect emotions to run high. You have developed key messages that you believe will inform the media or calm angry residents who are unhappy with your company. But before getting a chance to deliver your messages, you make a mistake that ensures your news briefing or...

The Personal Opinion Trap

The Personal Opinion Trap

In private conversations, most of us tend to speak freely, often expressing our personal opinions on a variety of topics. But if you are a spokesperson for a company, government entity, trade or industry association, your personal opinions should take a back seat to the public positions of the organization you’re representing during a media...

The Bernstein Bridge

The Bernstein Bridge

There is nothing more important in your quiver of effective communications tools than the bridge. It’s a verbal device that allows you to acknowledge or address a question you don’t want to answer and transition to a key message that you want to deliver. It appears White House economic advisor Jared Bernstein had already built his “bridge” in...

Use a Personal Story to Deliver Key Messages

Use a Personal Story to Deliver Key Messages

When preparing for a media interview, you try to anticipate questions and develop answers to them. Of course, you want those answers to contain key messages that are memorable and relevant. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is to incorporate a personal story into your answers. We found a perfect example of this in an interview...

Mr. McConaughey Goes to Washington

Mr. McConaughey Goes to Washington

It doesn’t happen often but every once in a while we see such a powerful example of compelling communication that we need to add no words or analysis. Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered such a message from the White House briefing room this week on the Uvalde school shooting. Uvalde is McConaughey’s hometown and the massacre of 19 children and...

Act Like You Mean It When Expressing Empathy

Act Like You Mean It When Expressing Empathy

Expressing empathy for people affected by a tragedy is the first priority when you’re conducting a news briefing. It should come high up in your statement as you release information to the media about the incident. However, it’s not good enough to just say empathetic words. You must act and sound like the words are sincere and heartfelt....

A Few “Inartful” Words Can Kill Your Entire Message

A Few “Inartful” Words Can Kill Your Entire Message

The headlines screamed out with an inexplicable but accurate quote from a major party candidate for governor of Georgia. Democrat Stacey Abrams told a crowd of supporters that Georgia was “The worst state in the country to live.” The remark left headline readers wondering why on earth Abrams would denigrate the state she wants to govern. Well,...

Blair Has a Flair with Speculation but You Won’t be so lucky!

Blair Has a Flair with Speculation but You Won’t be so lucky!

Speculating during an interview is a trap that can land you in hot water. Afterall, no one has a crystal ball and speculating about the future usually distracts from your key messages. However, there are occasional exceptions to this rule and we found one in a CNN interview with Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is asked to essentially...