4 Media Myths That Can Cause Problems For You

Over the last five years, I have helped coordinate more than one thousand interviews with the media. Cooperating with journalists is exciting and humbling. Sometimes it's both at once. Cooperating|Working} with the press|Working with tape is rolling|mic is on.

Although the medium by which the news is delivered changes over time, from the decline of newspapers to the rise of the news site - the basics are still the same. What makes a good story and manner in which to handle yourself during an interview is the same today as it was many years ago.

Here's four myths regarding the press that companies must shatter to succeed when being interviewed:

1. The media is my friend. The interviewer is doing a job and that job is reporting Although the journalist may have been favorable in the past|wrote a favorable story in the past}, doesn't mean you'll get a favorable story in the future.

2. Reporters are out to get me. Occasionally this might be true, but usually not. Editors simply want a good story.

3. This is talk off the record. "Off the record" - just like the words "no comment" - should be stricken from your vocabulary.

4. I must answer every question the journalist asks. Remember that you have control over what you do and do not say. Just as the journalist can choose to ask, you {can choose|are {allowed|free to not answer. Just redirect the question to your main points if you don't want to answer.

This public relations article was written by Wes Upchurch. Distributed through the PressDr's Article Distribution Service.