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How to Protect Yourself From Being Misquoted

Howard Kurtz' article about interviews in today's Washington Post got me thinking about how we can protect ourselves from being misquoted. The bottom line: often you can't. The best defense is not to say anything stupid, but, as well all know, that's not always possible. :>)

What should you do to protect yourself from being misquoted when you are interviewed? I've been misquoted, and I'm sure most people who've been interviewed have been surprised at how little of what they said was used, or the context in which is was used.

Here are some tips on protecting yourself in interviews, in which I consider both mainstream reporters and bloggers to be journalists:

- It's ok to turn down an interview as long as you don't say "No Comment."

Don't agree to be quoted if you're angry, extremely emotional or not up to speed on an issue. It's fine to say "I may not be the best person to interview on this topic."

- feel free to tape your interviews so you have a transcript if you believe there an accuracy issue is possible or likely.
- ask the reporter to fact check your quotes. Just yesterday I caught an error in the fact check on an upcoming article in which I'm quoted, even though the original interview was done via email.

That's not the same as asking to see the story in advance, which few reporters would agree to. It's just asking that your quotes be accurate. You can't control the context.

- ask the reporter the premise to her/his story. They'll almost always tell you. That gives you a chance to say no, or to shape your comments to how they might be used.

The waters are dangerous, nonetheless. "I was not misquoted. I was used to make a point Rutenberg wanted to make before he talked to me." Jay Rosen, writing about being quoted in the NY Times.

- if you are worried about the topic or the reporter's bias, stick to email.
- ask the reporter to publish his/her notes as background to the story. Some Businessweek reporters do this, and so do increasing numbers of mainstream media.

- don't say anything you wouldn't want quoted when you talk to a reporter. (Sounds easier than it is!)

- recognize that anything you say in email to a reporter is fair game these days for being included in a story

Beware the stealth interview
- Everything you say can come back to haunt you. Online, everything is forever. Comments you make on blogs, in forums, in social media groups, etc. will all show up in searches on your name. Think twice before you hit "submit" or "send."

There IS such a thing as bad publicity.

Posted by B.L. Ochman

Categories: Commentary

BL Ochman | May 21 07 12:45 | TrackBack (0)

Comments

Let me add another subtle one that works really well in the teevee interviews.

"By the way, who is going to be doing the editing."

More often than not, in local news, the crew interviewing you will be involved with the editorial AND the physical editing. Sometimes, they are merely beaming the tape back or dropping it off in the hands of a different editor.

The question is fair game - and it plants a seed in the mind of the reporter. If they speak up and claim ownership of the editing in advance, they are more likely to make sure your "eight seconds of glory" fits the theme of what you wanted to impart, and not so much the theme they wanted you to impart.

Posted by: Ike at May 21, 2007 6:20 PM

Say less. Ideally, say just one thing. Repeat what you're saying, but do this using new words and reasons and examples, so it doesn't sound and feel like you're going around in circles. Never, every say "as I said earlier".

Avoid jargon. Explain everything. Use short sentences and words. Pause between sentences. Ask the journalist whether your answers are helpful.

Posted by: Steven Noble at May 21, 2007 9:38 PM

Steven: Good advice for **traditional** media. But with the immediate news cycle we live in, journalists look online for what you've been quoted saying in other interviews; posts in blogs, forums and so on.

And even face to face or on the phone, no matter how little you say, or how much you try to keep it focused, you still may be quoted out of context or inaccurately.

In the stealth interview, you've been interviewed unless you keep tabs on what's being said about you online.

Posted by: B.L. Ochman at May 22, 2007 10:06 AM

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About BL Ochman

Blogger, social media strategy consultant to Fortune 500 companies, and sought-after corporate speaker B.L. Ochman heads the creative team of whatsnextonline.com. She also publishes the Ethics Crisis blog for SRF Global Translations

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