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You are here » Home» Churchgoers» Communications for Parishes» Dealing with Media Enquiries

Dealing with Media Enquiries

Introduction

The print and electronic media work fast. Yesterday's news is "dead" news: it is today's that counts, so speed is essential and competition rife. This means that most inquiries from the press, radio or television come in the form of an unexpected telephone call. As a result, it is easy to be caught off guard and to make comments before you have got your mind into gear. A simple routine procedure, whenever a call is received, reduces the risk of the hasty remark. Always be courteous - rude people make bad news.

What to do

1. When answering a reporter ask the following questions:

(Keep a copy of the Media Enquiry form by the telephone and note down the following details):

2. Offer to call back in (say) 10 minutes or ask him/her to call you back. If you agree to ring back, make sure you do and within the time promised! If it is a very simple inquiry deal with it there and then.

3. Write out what you want to say. Use the time to contact third parties if necessary, work out a line of action, agree a form of words or a statement.

4. Try to be brief and to the point. Reporters work under pressure and will appreciate this.

5. Contact the Diocesan Communications Officer if further advice or help is needed.

... To Summarise

1. Be factual and frank when giving information to the media - but always in a firm, friendly manner.
2. Always answer questions in your own words and in complete sentences - a "yes" or "no" to a loaded question can have startling consequences.
3. Expect a reporter's specialist knowledge to be limited. They are not employed to know the facts but to know how to find them.
4. Reporters write for their paper's audience. Expect to see your words 'translated'. (The average reading age for newspapers is variously quoted at between seven and fourteen years).
5. A good reporter accepts nothing at face value so be prepared to be cross examined.
6. Do not be bullied. You are not bound to answer every question. Try to control the interview - in an astute and gentle way.
7. Be positive - mere denials or "no comment" suggests you have something to hide. It could be an opportunity to kill false rumours. Mistakes multiply when people refuse to talk, so be helpful and the reporter will usually respond in the same way.
8. Do not flannel. If you have problems answering a question, tell the reporter you will find out and call back.
9. If you do not want it reported - do not say it! Try to feed your reporter the facts in a way that dictates the angle of the interview.
10. Remember - a newspaper reporter can put into print everything you say. Radio and television generally only broadcast what has been recorded!

Contact details for the Diocese:

Anni Holden
Director of Communications
The Palace, Hereford HR4 9BL
01432 373342 or 07889 186316
a.holden@hereford.anglican.org
www.hereford.anglican.org