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What Not To Do When You Don’t Like A Reporter
No need for introductions. Find me on Facebook here or on Twitter here if you don’t know me, or want to find out more about me. I’ll be using this blog for mainly public relations…um…related thoughts, but I like sports immensely, so expect some postings on that, and whatever I can get away with on the things my wife says.
With that, shall we?
I stumbled across this thanks to Sarah Evans (find her on Twitter @prsarahevans). Rather than explain a 5 minute long video, let’s just assume you watched it, mmkay?
LCEC’s PR Manager, Karen Ryan, at one point tells the TV station that she will no longer give them interviews since she has, “other work to do.” Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think this is a case of a bad PR professional. I think what happened is a case of emotions getting in the way of doing your job.
Keeping your wits about you is the number one thing that prevents situations like the one LCEC finds itself in. Because of the bungling that’s happened, the story is no longer about the large reconnection fees, instead it is all about LCECand its attitude towards the media, and by extension its customers. Telling a reporter you don’t have time for them when you are a public official is the same as saying that to the public.
It appears, without seeing the raw interview video, that Ms. Ryan grows frustrated from answering the same question, asked in different ways. Namely, why does LCEC charge these large reconnection fees, and why isn’t it willing to help out this soldier? In the beginning, I think she’s answering the questions correctly, however, her body language and tone of voice says she wants no part of this interview. That is the key mistake.
What do you think? Is this a one time story if Ms. Ryan answers questions in a differently rather than becoming an ongoing series featured on Fox 4′s homepage?
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