Clarity Solutions
  • Home
  • Training Programs
    • Media Training >
      • Media Essentials
      • Managing Your Media Performance
      • 30 Minutes with the Media
      • Media Crisis Plans that Work
    • Crisis Training >
      • Crisis Essentials
      • Crisis Workout
      • Crisis Fundamentals
    • Executive Coaching >
      • What To Expect
    • Presentation Skills
    • Strategic Communication >
      • High Stakes Speech and Presentation Skills
      • Speech & Presentation Skills
      • Strategic Conversations
      • Communicate Leadership
    • Thought Leadership
    • Social Media
  • Resource Hub
    • Interview Tips
    • Crisis Media Tips
    • Visual Language >
      • Memorable One-Liners
    • Dressing For Television
    • Sounding Great On Radio & Podcasts
    • Social Media For Business
    • Perfect PowerPoint
    • Clearway Blog
  • About Clarity
    • Meet The Team >
      • Geoffrey Stackhouse
      • Sharon Leifer
    • Why Clarity?
    • How to Choose a Trainer
  • Contact Us

        Clearway Blog


WHY "NO COMMENT" IS DEADLY

17/10/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture

​When you say "no comment" you are handing all the control to the reporter and allowing them to speculate to their heart's content.
Bernard O'Riordan, Media Trainer

When it comes to dealing with the media, very few words are deadlier than “no comment”. You might as well admit guilt, because that’s how that innocuous phrase is most often interpreted by reporters - and the public.

So many people instinctively think they can hide behind the phrase “no comment”, either on the advice of their lawyers or on the assumption that it keeps them safe.

That might work well in a police interrogation, but it's deadly when dealing with the media. 

A "no comment" response really can be like a red rag to a bull because it instantly puts you or your organisation in an adversarial position with a reporter, it implies you have something to hide and it allows a reporter to speculate as much as they like. 

Whenever someone says “no comment”, it makes them instantly powerless because they’re really surrendering control over how a situation will be reported, as this story highlights.

It encourages a reporter to dig deeper and talk to others who will put their thoughts on your issue – possibly with inaccuracies or from perspectives that do you or your company no favours.

That’s why - when a reporter is asking tough, tricky or even fair and reasonable questions that you can't or don't want to answer - it’s much wiser to arm yourself with some other non-committal statements that don’t sound so defensive or uninformed.

Depending on the situation, you could respond with: “I understand your interest, but I don’t have anything to add”; “I’m sorry but that’s not something I can’t help you with right now”; or “It’s not appropriate to say anything at this time.”

No one response fits all circumstances, particularly when things are out of your control. But you’ll give yourself a much better chance if you can avoid the knee-jerk “no comment", and even provide a reason why you won’t or can’t help.

The funny thing about “no comment”, in many instances, is that what people really mean is “I don’t know”. So if you can’t help a reporter because you just don’t have the facts, it’s often better to say so.

Here are a few simple tips to consider if you have reporters in your face:

Acknowledge
Tell a reporter that you understand why they’re asking for a view or comment, but explain why that’s not possible;

Assure
Provide some comfort and trust that you are doing everything you can to identify a problem or resolve an issue. Often your brand or reputation hinges on how you respond in a crisis, and “no comment” provides no comfort to anyone;

Explain
Maybe a matter is before the courts, or maybe you or your company are still gathering the facts on a situation. Give a reason why it would be inappropriate to talk now, but keep it nice in case you want to talk at a later stage.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Blog Archive

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    Book Your
    ​Training
Subscribe for Updates
Picture
 02 9880 8544

Picture
clarity@claritysolutions.com.au

Home / Training / Resources
About / Contact / FAQ
  • Home
  • Training Programs
    • Media Training >
      • Media Essentials
      • Managing Your Media Performance
      • 30 Minutes with the Media
      • Media Crisis Plans that Work
    • Crisis Training >
      • Crisis Essentials
      • Crisis Workout
      • Crisis Fundamentals
    • Executive Coaching >
      • What To Expect
    • Presentation Skills
    • Strategic Communication >
      • High Stakes Speech and Presentation Skills
      • Speech & Presentation Skills
      • Strategic Conversations
      • Communicate Leadership
    • Thought Leadership
    • Social Media
  • Resource Hub
    • Interview Tips
    • Crisis Media Tips
    • Visual Language >
      • Memorable One-Liners
    • Dressing For Television
    • Sounding Great On Radio & Podcasts
    • Social Media For Business
    • Perfect PowerPoint
    • Clearway Blog
  • About Clarity
    • Meet The Team >
      • Geoffrey Stackhouse
      • Sharon Leifer
    • Why Clarity?
    • How to Choose a Trainer
  • Contact Us