Hi John,

I was overwhelmed by the response to my announcement that this ezine will be closing at the end of October after over a thousand issues. It's been monstrous fun.

Allow me to re-iterate that I'm perfectly healthy and will be continuing to work with clients. It's simply that we're winding up our limited company and all the associated activities.

I will be continuing to produce a newsletter on LinkedIn, though maybe on a less regular basis. I'll also keep nominating a MediaMaestro and MediaMug, as requested by many people.

Though this newsletter has always been free to receive, which is a promise I made in the very first edition, I do have to pay an excellent company - Constant Contact - to send it out in this format. I'm not going to say how much, but over the twenty plus years it would have covered quite a lot of tickets to see Oasis. Not that I mind - I love keeping in touch.

Six more issues to go!

I was at the launch of an amazing book last week. It's "And the roots of rhythm remain" by veteran music producer Joe Boyd.

He has produced many great albums, including those by Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, Jimi Hendrix, Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention,

His book is a remarkable record of the global development of music, and is without doubt the best book I've ever read on the history of music.

He was interviewed by another legendary producer, Brian Eno - what a night!

My guest in the radio show this week is Ainsley Diaz Stevens from Nashville.

She's a singer songwriter with a fantastic voice.

Her live performances with her band are vibrant, rockin’ and energetic. Her acoustic sets are more intimate and emotive but deeply engaging.

When asked about performing Ainsley expresses that “the stage feels like home to me, the place where I am totally at peace within myself.”

And yes, we are distantly related. But it's my show.

Hear our fascinating chat in the in the radio show

Go to the MediaCoach Show

Follow me on X (Twitter)

And there's a terrific song by Ainsley of course.

The MediaMug of the week goes to the cheap Chinese brand, Temu.

They advertised a croissant-shaped lamp, and a purchaser reported that when she left it on a table, it filled with ants.

She discovered the reason - it was an actual croissant covered in plastic resin and cabled up with a bulb inside it.

Temu - which has been criticised many times in the past for shoddy and unsafe goods has so far not commented.

Talk about a light breakfast...

Like many professional speakers, I speak overseas on a regular basis. That often means working with interpreters.

If you are at an international conference, then sessions will probably be conducted in English, or simultaneous interpretation will be provided. Whatever the circumstances, you may wish to include a phrase or two of the local language in order to "please" your audience. If you do, then make sure that you practice and deliver it accurately.

US President John F Kennedy, on a visit to Berlin during the cold war, uttered the memorable phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner". In fact, he meant to say "Ich bin Berliner" ("I am a Berliner"), since the former phrase means "I am a doughnut". However, being who he was, he got away with it. (Actually there are different interpretations of this story, too)

Your audience may not be so forgiving. Talk to a locally- based colleague to find out what would be a useful phrase, and what behaviour is acceptable. I can tell you from experience that having advance knowledge of a culture is a tremendous help when faced with a roomful of foreign dignitaries.

If you use an interpreter, here are a few tips -

• Meet the interpreter in advance
• Find out whether the interpretation is simultaneous or consecutive
• Avoid idiomatic phrases, such as "right on the money"
• Talk to the audience, not the interpreter
• Speak in short sentences
• Slow down
• Avoid humour

And if you only learn one word in the local language, make sure it means "Thanks"     

I've spoken with clients who feel that their company or themselves personally have been unfairly criticised in the media. Their initial reaction is to call the radio or TV station to demand a right of reply. However, my advice is often to take another course of action. It's important to take a little time to reflect on the comments and the possible reputational damage. Responding in haste and anger is never a good idea.

I can't always see the point of a public airing of private grief. Even if you feel that you have been criticised in public, there is often little benefit in responding in the same forum, since there are several ways of contacting people directly. As US football coach Vince Lombardi used to say "Praise in public, criticise in private".

Remember that everything you say on air can be found later by current and prospective clients. However strongly you feel, the fact that you have made strongly critical comments against another individual will reflect badly on you, since the context will be long-lost. Even in context, it's still not going to look good to many people. Furthermore, it is not the best way to effect a resolution. In my experience, it's much easier to resolve a difference by direct contact, or preferably a face-to-face meeting. A public argument seems more likely to inflame the situation than to resolve it

Of course, a personal slight in public hurts, and there is a temptation to respond. But think twice. Then think a third time. You may still decide to respond. But if you do, remember the old saying "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves". 

News spreads very rapidly around social networks. Bad news travels even faster than good news. That means if you're dealing with a crisis on social media, you need to act quickly and decisively. Here's a five-step plan to help you handle a social media storm:

1) Review your scheduled messages. Whatever the crisis, you may be criticised for continuing to send messages that are seen as inappropriate or even offensive. Ensure you have a way of turning scheduled messages off immediately.

2) Monitor your brand online, and take action only when necessary. You don't need to respond to every tweet. That could simply fan the flames. Sometimes it's best to leave a tweet to wither in the ether.

3) Make sure someone is online at all times to send messages on your behalf. Ask them to use their name, so that the message is also personal.



4) Keep spokespeople in the loop. If anyone has to speak to broadcast or print media, brief them first on what is happening online.

5) Return to normal business only when you are certain that the crisis has passed.     

Whenever someone asks about a great comic, mention the late Sean Lock

You know I can help. Just get in touch. 07986 852621

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."