Foot in Mouth Disease

Interesting post by The Wall Street Journal's Jeffrey Zaslow on slips of the tongue.

One of the most important media and communications tips I give to clients is to "know your story."  I picked this up from a former employer who understood the power of having key messages and sticking to them.  One of the most painful things to watch is an interview with someone who isn't clear on what he or she is saying.  "The worst thing you can do in an interview," my employer would say, "is to try out a new message in an interview setting."

So, what is one to do?  Practice!

Here's how I put it to clients:  Remember when you were dating someone you wanted to impress (perhaps your spouse) and you'd stand in front of the mirror and review what you were going to say?  This is the same thing, except I'm your mirror and I'll give you feedback.

So, today's take-aways?

1.  Think about your key messages.
2.  Practice saying your key messages.
3.  No matter what, don't ever "try out" new messaging in an interview situation.

As Zaslow points out: "If only more of us would follow the advice of 1950s-era humorist Sam Levenson. 'It's so simple to be wise,' he once said. 'Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it.'"

Jon Stewart Let me Down

I'm a big fan of The Daily Show. Or, more accurately, I should say that I enjoy watching it. The show is smart, funny and often addresses issues far better than any of the "legitimate" news programs.

A few weeks ago, Stewart had Bill Kristol, a well-known conservative, on. If you watch the video of the interview, you'll note that after the 7:00 mark, Stewart goes from interviewer to grandstander and attacker. Of course, Kristol could have - and should have - stopped him with a simple, "Jon, you asked me a good question. Please let me answer it without constant interruption."

Here's the interview:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Bill Kristol
www.thedailyshow.com
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Kristol's a smart guy, but he needs media training.