PR pros who’ve made the jump from journalism may remember how upsetting it was when a PR pro or corporate executive answered a question with, “No comment.” Veteran PR pro and, yes, former reporter Arthur Solomon offers a bevy of responses communicators and executives can use when they don’t want to comment, but also wish to avoid uttering those damnable words, “No comment.”
Media Training


Messages Received? Hits and Misses at America’s Virtual Conventions
August 28th, 2020 by Gene GrabowskiWe asked veteran PR pro, DC insider and crisis guru Gene Grabowski of kglobal to assess the effectiveness of messages presented at the political conventions. Which speakers (if any) benefitted from the virtual format, seemed genuine, used humor effectively and, most important, persuaded undecided voters to support their candidate?

Has the Novel Coronavirus Killed Media Training?
August 24th, 2020 by Allan ChernoffShould you defer media training owing to the pandemic’s restrictions on travel and social distancing? While it’s a bit trickier during COVID-19, and in-person coaching is best, technology workarounds exist, our author, a former TV journalist, argues.

Can You Create a Perfect Interview? PR Pros Tell You How
August 20th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinRecently, we asked PR pros about how to handle an executive who was having a terrible time with one-on-one interviews. This time, we turned the tables a bit, asking how they’d create the perfect interview. They had a lot to say, even though the perfect interview might not exist.

‘Mr. President, How About an Interview?’ PR Pros Advise the White House
August 5th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinIt’s the White House calling. Your expertise in strategic communication is needed. They want you to rush over right away. The question on the table is one you’ve handled many times before with CEOs and other C-suite members: What do you advise when the CEO’s 1:1 interviews are a disaster? Should the CEO continue to do interviews?

Trump Provides Media Training Lessons in ‘Fox News Sunday’ Interview
July 20th, 2020 by Nicole SchumanRegardless of the viewers’ opinions of the Trump/Wallace interview, it did provide several points of instruction for media training. Whether they are working with an executive, small business owner or the president of the United States, it’s important for communications professionals to prepare not only themselves, but their spokespeople, to the best of their ability.

How To Make Your Executives Media Friendly
July 15th, 2020 by Arthur SolomonWith the novel coronavirus, we see on TV and read in print media the same experts over and over. The public thinks these people are the most-qualified. Sometimes that’s the case. Other times, it’s because they are media savvy. Here are tips that will help make the executives you represent more media friendly.
Red Lobster CEO Apologizes for Mother’s Day Mayhem
May 13th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinPublic relations crisis management counsels that brands should own their mistakes promptly, apologize when there are victims and communicate how they are making things right. Red Lobster’s CEO Kim Lopdrup did that yesterday. For many… Continued
How Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo Masked Her Dad’s Poor Communication Skills
May 5th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinWhat to do when you have trouble communicating and there’s an important message to send? Qualification: You’re an ineffective communicator in the eyes of your 25-year-old daughter. And to make things more complex, you happen to be governor of the country’s coronavirus epicenter?
Two Narratives Battle at The Latest White House Briefing
April 23rd, 2020 by Seth ArensteinIn late February, coronavirus was starting to pierce the US zeitgeist. Garland Stansell, the PRSA chair and a veteran health care communicator, told us then that producing a consistent message is critical to communications during… Continued