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Media Training ... for All

By: Julie Steininger | 05/20/2009

Wow, two recent stories caught my attention. An (in)famous industry and a famous individual are preparing to enter the media world.

First, according to the Ottawa Sun, prostitutes in Vancouver will be offered media training prior to the 2010 Olympic Games. "Kerry Porth, with the Prostitution Alternatives Counseling and Education Society, says it's important for sex trade workers to know their rights when dealing with cameras and reporters." I agree with that and have counseled a number of clients on their media spokesperson bill of rights (although none in that industry, I want to make clear). As a media spokesperson, you have the right to:

• Know the topic, time and location of your interview
• Know the parameters of the interview
• Not answer confidential or proprietary questions
• Disagree with a reporter's inferences or facts
• Redirect the interview if it gets off track
• Provide background materials to the reporter in advance of the interview
• Be treated courteously and honestly

On a somewhat related note, a larger-than-life figure (literally) will join the ranks of reporters in the next few years: Shaquille O'Neal. He plans to have his own radio and television show after retirement, and recently completed a broadcast boot camp at Syracuse University to prepare for his new career. Shaq learned the fundamentals of interviewing, including every good radio interview has a beginning, a middle and an end. He also learned about asking open-ended questions. As Shaq transitions to his new career sometime in the future, he should know that media also has its own bill of rights. As a reporter, he will have the right to:

• Access legitimate news sources
• Have sources respect deadlines
• Receive timely, honest responses to queries
• Conduct follow-up as needed for information or clarification
• Evaluate and report news as they see it

So, good luck to those folks in Vancouver and to Shaq. I wonder if they'll ever end up across the interview table from each other.

Posted in Public Relations