Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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There's been quite a controversy about tweets sent a long time ago by England cricketers. One, Ollie Robinson, has been suspended for the current Test Match.
This is a long-running story, and one that I often comment on, so I was not surprised in the least to get a call from Sky News this week to give my take on the matter.
It's amazing how people still haven't realised that social media is a public place. Whatever you say or do may be seen by millions of people. And even deleting it doesn't make it go away, since someone may have taken a copy.
Simple rule - if you're not sure whether to post something, don't post it!
You can see what I told Sarah Hewson below. |
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COMPETITION TIME!
The return of top-class sport and other events provides a great opportunity for something I posted last week - ridiculous commentary.
So here's your chance to win a signed copy of "The Exceptional Speaker"
Every month this summer - June, July and August - I will award a copy of the book to the person who spots the most ridiculous piece of commentary at any event.
Closing date is the end of each month. My decision is final. Entries by email to alan@mediacoach.co.uk Good luck! |
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 | Iain Matthews first gained attention as a founding member and vocalist for the innovative Fairport Convention’s first three albums, changing the voice of folk music in his country. He moved on to create Matthews’ Southern Comfort, exploring his interest in American music. They had a No 1 hit in the UK with Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’.
He moved on during the 1970’s with another group, Plainsong – supported by his ex-Fairport mates Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson both in the studio and in Richard’s case on tour.
He now lives in the Netherlands, and is embarking on a short UK tour this year, with dates on Tues. 10th August. Crooked Billet. Stoke Row, Wed. 11th. Boisdale. Canary Wharf. Thur. 12th. Half Moon. Putney,(see you there) Fri. 13th. Canterbury uni. , Sat. 14th. Fairport Cropredy festival. Cropredy.
There's also a great song from Iain too. |
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The MediaMaestro award goes to the England football manager, Gareth Southgate.
He's written a superb open letter to the country on the eve of the Euros football tournament.
It’s beautifully written, and it elegantly combines a sense of his position with a feeling of humility and homeliness:
“I know my voice carries weight, not because of who I am but because of the position that I hold. At home, I’m below the kids and the dogs in the pecking order but publicly I am the England men’s football team manager. I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players.”
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The MediaMug is Standard Life Aberdeen.
They have renamed themselves "abdrn", pronounced "Aberdeen" (I'm not making this up)
Stephen Bird, Chief Executive, said:
“Our new brand Abrdn builds on our heritage and is modern, dynamic and, most importantly, engaging for all of our client and customer channels. It is a highly-differentiated brand that will create unity across the business, replacing five different brand names that have each been operating independently. Our new name reflects the clarity of focus that the leadership team are bringing to the business as we seek to deliver sustainable growth.”
I don't think that needs any further opinion from me. Or to put it their way "N Cmmnt" |
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Speaking Tip - It's classic. It's rhetoric. |
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I know that any mention of rhetorical devices is popular, because I always get good feedback when I include it.
So here, especially for Graham, Neil, Sally, and Ayesha, is my latest selection to enhance your oratory.
Paraprosdokian: surprise or unexpected ending of a phrase or series. Examples: "He was at his best when the going was good". Alistair Cooke on the Duke of Windsor. "There but for the grace of God - goes God". Winston Churchill on Sir Stafford Cripps.
Asyndeton: lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. Examples: "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address "But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground". Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
Aporia: Expressing uncertainty or doubt. Example: "Hey, I don't have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I've failed as much as I've succeeded. But I love my wife; I love my life; and I wish you my kind of success." Jared Jussim as Dicky Fox in Jerry Maguire.
Epistrophe: The counterpoint to Anaphora, where a phrase is repeated at the start of each sentence (as in the "I have a dream.." speech), Epistrophe is repetition at the end of a sentence. Example: "It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes we can." Barack Obama, New Hampshire primary, 8 January 2008 |
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Media Tip - News never sleeps |
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These days, news, like rust, never sleeps. There was a time when you could plan your contact with the media several hours ahead, or even days ahead for a weekly publication. That was then. Even daily newspapers have websites that are updated every minute, and both radio and television news channels are on air 24/7.
The continuous nature of news reporting means:
- There is never "dead time" on news channels
- There are news updates every minute
- All media outlets monitor each others news feeds
- Breaking news moves from one channel to another very fast
- Everyone is looking for a new angle
- There are no embargos
- There is no exclusivity
- If your name features prominently in a story, you will receive calls from everywhere
- There is nowhere to hide
- There's nothing as old as yesterday's news
You don't have to make yourself available for interview at any time - that's what pre-recorded interviews are for. However, you do need to monitor alerts and be media-ready at all times, because if you miss your opportunity, someone else may step in. |
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Social Media Tip - They don't like me |
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You've had some criticism on social media. A couple of people have been really nasty. Disappointing isn't it? Annoying even? Well yes, of course. But it happens to everyone. As soon as you become widely visible on social media, you will find a few people who don't like your views, and they will make themselves heard.
Of course, any criticism can be upsetting, but you need to keep things in perspective. If your views are radical, they are bound to upset someone, but the flip side is that you will also have raving fans. Another thing that attracts haters is having a high profile. The old green-eyed monster is a powerful force too. Comfort yourself with the fact that if you're being noticed by a lot of people, you'll be getting plenty of business.
So how should you respond to criticism? Here are some options:
- Ignore it. It's doing you little harm.
- Block the complainer, so you don't even see it.
- Delete the original post (along with all the comments) and re-post it
- Respond with gentle humour. Never insult anyone.
- Call on your supporters for help
- Keep things in proportion. Don't obsess about it.
As Winston Churchill put it: "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." |
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An online or in-person speech to make? I can help.
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The information in this ezine may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line - "This information was written by Alan Stevens, and originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", his free weekly ezine, available at www.mediacoach.co.uk." |
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