Preventing PR Humiliation

I remember one day in my early teen years, I was in a reading class. Part of each day was spent in open reading time. During one of those open reading times, I somehow managed to fall asleep while, of course, sitting in the front row. To make matters worse, I had one of those dreams that makes you kick awake suddenly. You know, the kind that always seems to happen when your in an important meeting, or in church...

I woke up VERY quickly. And in the process, I kicked the leg of the desk creating huge crashing noise accompanied by my uttering the word "WHOA!". (Actually uttering isn't the right word, and shouting isn't either, but it was clearly somewhere in between.) And, if that wasn't bad enough, the instructor (who was also a good friend of my mother) was standing just a few feet away from my desk.

As you can imagine, I became the source of scorn a ridicule for weeks afterwards.

Ever been there? Then you can probably understand how it might feel to look really dumb in the media.

Don't think it could happen to you? Well, let's make sure that it doesn't.

--There is nothing wrong with asking a reporter to be able to fact check his/her story. In fact, we encourage it. This will to find any errors, before they go to print. They may not always say yes, but it helps avoid problems.

--Sometimes, a reporter may not completely understand what you are saying. If you start to detect this, don't be afraid to ask the reporter to read back the information you just gave. This could save you a lot of pain later.

--Always have a clear black and white photo of yourself handy. It may get your photo published when it may not otherwise be and it will help avoid them taking your picture on a day when you might not be looking your best.

--Make sure the reporter spells your name correctly. Nothing is more frustrating than have your name spelled wrong (plus it sure hurts the publicity factor when nobody can find you afterwards).

These are some great suggestions, and the list is not complete. The scenarios are many, and the answers just as plentiful. But what if they've already printed that story that has a picture of you with your finger up your nose or if they misquoted so badly that people want you fired?

--Don't be afraid to call the reporter and demand a correction. The risk is decent that you'll make the reporter angry. But, if you don't correct it, that same misinformation may go out through other publications, thus making your humiliation complete.

--If they've really botched the job, and you believe they may be guilty of slander or libel, contact your attorney. They will be able to advise you on proper procedure before you decide to do something you'll probably regret (like punching out the reporter while on the air).

Let's face it. We all hate embarrassment. It can be avoided if we just keep a watchful eye and be diligent in controlling the flow of information.

Need more ideas on how to avoid getting embarrassed in the media? Read our special report Damage Control: How to Keep The Media From Making A Mess Of Your Story. You can have a copy on your screen in just 120 seconds through our buy it now, read it now function.

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Tags: Meeting with Reporters