good media questions
good media questions
Media Trainers:journalists Should Thank Them
Copyright (c) 2009 Karen Friedman
In a recent edition of the Columbia Journalism Review, well known journalists complained that as a growing number of media trainers teach spokespeople to twist interviews, dodge questions and seize control of interviews, the public is suffering. To quote 20/20′s John Stossell: “Give Me a Break!”
Imagine that! Intelligent spokespeople who don’t want to be caught off-guard, are coming to interviews armed with facts and messages, have practiced delivering those messages in advance and are learning how to speak clearly and concisely so they can explain complicated information in simple terms. What a concept! As a veteran news reporter, I would like to thank them for investing in the public’s education.
For more than twenty years, I interviewed people who had a lot to say, but didn’t know how to say it. Even the most seasoned communicators are nervous and uncomfortable when thrust in the spotlight. They are afraid of not knowing answers, missing opportunities, sounding too technical and getting blindsided by unexpected questions. Most don’t understand what reporters want or how a story is put together. Not only will a good coach help people master the difficult task of explaining complicated information in easy-to-understand terms, but an experienced trainer teaches even the most media-savvy athletes and celebrities to take charge of what they want to say instead of being held hostage by limited questions.
Contrary to some correspondent’s perception that “interviews become excuses to practice public relations”, media coaches do not spin. In fact, media coaches should really be called communications coaches because they help people communicate more effectively to a variety of groups including reporters, business audiences, analysts, investors, and the public. They focus on strengths and values which should come across in every word you speak. They help spokespeople give meaning to their thoughts and teach them to speak in concepts so they can address the concerns of their audiences. They teach people not to repeat a reporter’s negative words, which will be reported as their own. They help people give tough subjects perspective through stories, analogies, and examples so complex information can be remembered.
Do they use phrases such as: “What’s more important to discuss” or “What I’d really like to talk about” to bridge to their own agenda? You bet they do and why shouldn’t they look for opportunities to get their own points across? After all, they’re being interviewed because they have information to share. Like the interviewer, they want to look good too. Maybe it’s time for journalists to stop the pity party and like their interviewees, learn how to better craft an interview so the public is treated to the big picture. They might even want to consider getting some communications coaching.
Notice I did not say media training. That’s because good media training should teach you to communicate to audiences beyond the media. If you’re serious about learning to connect with readers, viewers and listeners, then you should schedule media training just like you schedule a doctor’s appointment. Better safe, than sorry!
About the Author
Karen Friedman is an international communications coach and award winning television reporter who helps executives, spokespeople and celebrities shine in every interview, appearance and presentation. President, Karen Friedman Enterprises and co-author of Speaking of Success, she is frequently quoted by publications including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Details: http://www.karenfriedman.com
Good debate questions for immigration?
we are doing a class debate by dividing into 3 groups. liberal, conservative and media. and im in the media group and we have to try to question the liberal and conservative groups. but what are some good bebate questions?!?
1. Do you think that there should be a clear differentiation between immigrants and illegal aliens? (Follow up: Is it fair to legal immigrants to include them in the same category with illegal aliens?)
2. Proponents of illegal immigration make the legitimate point that government tax incomes would rise with amnesty, however both democrats and republicans neglect to mention that their potential tax compliance would not nearly cover their costs to the government. (CIS figures), leaving a net loss for the US of $5,000 per family per year more than the costs incurred by legal residents and citizens. How do you justify that?
3. A mass “one-time” amnesty for illegal aliens was implemented during the Reagan administration in order to finally solve the illegal immigration problem once and for all. Instead, it compounded it dramatically to the crisis we have today. Why should we make the same mistake twice?
4. The most successful operation that the INS has ever implemented regarding illegal immigration was in 1954 by President Eisenhower. The operation began in California and Arizona and coordinated 1,075 Border Patrol agents along with state and local police agencies to mount an aggressive crackdown, going as far as police sweeps of Mexican-American neighborhoods and random stops and ID checks of people in a region with many Native Americans and native Hispanics. 750 agents targeted agricultural areas with a goal of 1000 apprehensions a day. By the end of July, over 50,000 aliens were caught in the two states. Around 488,000 people fled the country for fear of being apprehended. By September, 80,000 had been taken into custody in Texas, and the INS estimates that 500,000-700,000 people had left Texas voluntarily. To discourage re-entry, buses and trains took many people deep within Mexico before being set free. Tens of thousands more were put aboard two hired ships, the Emancipation and the Mercurio. The ships ferried them from Port Isabel, Texas, to Veracruz, Mexico, more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) south. some as far as 1,000 miles.
The operation was a huge success with illegal aliens voluntarily leaving the country in droves, over 4 million in a very short time. Wouldn’t we be better served to model our plan to deal with illegal immigration after a success like this rather than a failure like amnesty?
It’s difficult to come up with questions for a debate on legal immigration as everyone supports it for the most part. I’m assuming your teacher really means illegal immigration and it’s issues although she/he is being PC to the illegals and unfair to the legal immigrants by lumping them all together. I prefer to be considerate to those obeying our laws rather than PC to those breaking them.
TOEFL SPEAKING question 1 (9 samples)
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