Mar
31
A reporter’s job is to get the most accurate and interesting story he or she can. Whether journalists make you look good or bad in the process is inconsequential to them - their loyalty is to their story, and their goal is to elicit the most dramatic quotes possible from you.
This is not to suggest that you should view every encounter with reporters as adversarial. In fact, most interviews are quite straightforward. But a good journalist will try to steer you “off message.” He or she will use well-established tricks of the trade to get you to say things you didn’t intend to say, and some of those things might prove embarrassing when you see them in the newspaper the next day.
By knowing some of the tricks of the reporting trade, you can maintain control of the interview and get the quotes you want. Below are three ways to avoid falling into a reporter’s trap:
1) Never Repeat a Bad Question in Your Answer — It usually starts innocuously enough. A journalist will tell you that because his or her questions will not be included in the story, you should answer the questions in complete sentences.
For example, if a reporter asks, ‘Are you pleased with the number of donations your organization received this year?” he or she would ask you to answer by saying, “Our organization is pleased with the number of donations we’ve received this year.” It makes perfect sense, and is a legitimate way of conducting an interview.
But occasionally, a reporter will ask a negative question without warning. You have to break the rules here, and answer the question as a positive.
For example, if a reporter asks you, “Is it true that your organization has committed fraud?” you probably don’t want your quote the next day to say, “It isn’t true that our organization committed fraud.” Such a quote links your organization to the word “fraud,” an association you’d probably rather not make.
Assuming, of course, that your business did not commit fraud, you should answer that question in a positive manner, such as, “In our 35 years of business, we have always taken great pains to ensure that our business operates within the word and spirit of the law. We have operated ethically in this case, as we strive to in all of our dealings.”
2) Shhhhh! — During most interviews, reporters will ask a steady stream of questions and you will answer them. No surprises there. But remember the goal of the journalist - he or she wants to steer you off message in order to elicit a more interesting response.
Sometimes, after you finish answering the reporter’s question, the reporter will just sit there, as if he or she wants you to continue speaking. The silence usually flusters the interviewee, who tries to please his or her interviewer by speaking again - and usually strays far off message in the process. Don’t fall into this trap! If you find yourself in a “reportorial stare down,” simply ask whether the reporter has another question and move on.
3) Don’t Assume the Reporter Knows What He Says He Knows — For this one, I’ll turn it over to Eric Nalder, an investigative reporter for the respected San Jose Mercury News. In his article, “The Art of the Interview,” Nalder writes, “Play like you know. Ask the official why he fired the whistle-blower rather than asking whether he did the deed. The question presumes you already know even if you don’t have it confirmed. They’ll start explaining rather than denying.”
In other words, by falling into this trap, you may be the person who confirms a negative story about your own organization. If the reporter has made a false assumption, speak up. If not, don’t help the journalist confirm it unless you’ve made a conscious choice to do so.
Brad Phillips is the founder and president of Phillips Media Relations (http://www.PhillipsMediaRelations.com). He was formerly a journalist for ABC News and CNN, and also headed the media relations department for the second largest environmental group in the world.
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Mar
30
A wood deck is a home improvement that not only adds to the value of your home, but provides a communal area in which you and your family can commune for eating and other activities. There are some things to consider when deciding on deck designs that may be appropriate for your yard and needs.
Your deck design should include features that match your family’s lifestyle as well as compliment the design of your house. Being that you will probably live with the deck design you choose for many years, the planning portion of adding a wood deck to your home is the most important part of such a project.
There are three main ways to view the building of a wood deck that can help you decide which deck designs are most appropriate for your needs. These perspectives include 1) How you plan to use your wood deck, 2) Legal considerations, and 3) Size and location.
One of the most important considerations in designing a wood deck for your home is figuring out what all activities you plan to have take place on the deck area. If you entertain regularly, then an important consideration would be the number of people that usually are involved in these types of get-togethers.
Would your dinner guests be more comfortable on built-in benches, or comfy patio chairs? Do you want the deck layout to facilitate several small conversations, or one large communal area where a presentation or one group activity can be enjoyed? Will you require lighting for night time gatherings? These are the types of question you must ask yourself when deciding on which functions the deck area is being built to accommodate.
Try to imagine each and every activity or type of gathering that you’d like to accommodate in your backyard wood deck area. Most decisions on appliances and other deck accoutrements depend heavily on these kinds of considerations.
Before deciding on deck designs, you should first check your local zoning codes and ordinances. These rules may limit the height or overall size of your wood deck area. Local ordinances may also have regulations about privacy screens or the minimum distance that your deck can be from your neighbors’ yards. Also, neighborhood or subdivision committees may need to approve your deck design before construction begins.
Check with the local building department to see if you’re required to attain a building permit. Also, don’t forget to check with the utility companies to ensure that you will not disrupt underground water or power lines.
Size and location are important considerations as well. Just as tiny decks look out of place next to large houses, huge decks can look rather odd next to tiny houses. If your deck designs add up to too large of a deck for your house, try to break up the decks into smaller, individual deck areas.
As far as location is concerned, this mostly relates to sun and which side(s) of the house your deck will reside. North side decks will most likely be the coolest in the summer. Southern or western facing deck locations may prove to be too warm in the summer months.
There are a number of valuable resources for finding deck building guides and whatnot on the internet. The important thing is to consider what all your deck needs to accomplish in terms of activity and comfort; the rest will work itself out. Have fun!
Nicky is a do-it-yourself landscape enthusiast who has written numerous articles for various landscaping books on helping individuals plan their home design projects. He has created http://www.loneoak.net which consolidates all of his knowledge into colorful illustrations with free installation tips for various deck ideas.
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Mar
29
You need only one card, but make it noticeable. Make sure it says the right thing.
I mentioned before that you can make some cards using your computer. However, I would suggest that you take time to have them designed in order to look professional. A good designer will cost at the beginning of the process but, over time, the cost will be negligible compared to the amount of business you can generate by simply using a business card. Your main card should have a simple and clear design that makes it easy for the recipients to contact you. The card should indicate what type of business you are in as well. I have seen so many business cards that leave me wondering what it is that they do. For example, I went to a fund-raising meeting for a Chamber in my local area and I was given a set of business cards for contacting possible suppliers of goods for the event. More than half the cards only had things like “Tecon Incorporated” on them. I had no idea what they did or what they could possibly supply. As a result, I only called on those companies that clearly defined what they sold.
Take a look at your own business card. Does it spell out clearly what you do? If someone picked up your business card because you left it at a potential client’s office, would they be able to figure out what you do? Would they even read your card?
If you have a good design and a clear message on your business card you will be portrayed with a professional image. Placing your web site address and your email contact information will give a potential client another way to contact you. Good design should also be carried through to other components of your business stationery and website. The message you give your customers should be consistent.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com
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