Posts Tagged ‘The Press’

  1. Media relationships – it’s important to make them work

    Published on Thursday, January 19th, 2012

    The Press has accused EQC of being unprofessional in its portrayal of two of its reporters – one as “schizophrenic in his writing” and another as a “rogue reporter”.

    The background to this is the EQC’s presentation to field staff on Monday reminding them of the organisation’s responsibilities to the media and that media enquiries should be referred to the designated media contact person.

    This story is evidence of natural tensions between an organisation in the spotlight (and even under siege) and the legitimate role of the media – a fact acknowledged by EQC.

    Any organisation that’s dealt with the media on sensitive issues will have some sympathy for the frustrations of the EQC at this time.  No matter how brilliantly they respond to many claims, some people will remain disaffected and will take their complaints to the media, because they feel that is the only power they have.  Whether these complaints are legitimate or not, the EQC has to accept this.

    If the EQC made a mistake in it presentation to staff, it was in overtly personalising its concerns with individual reporters and preference for others.  For its part the newspaper has over-reacted to this. I suspect there’ve been instances when its own reporters have privately characterised some of the EQC’s personnel in less than flattering terms. That’s just human nature.

    It should not be forgotten that contacts between reporters and organisations are complex human relationships.  In pressure situations there can be an added edge, and what the reporter sees as relatively straight forward is often not so, and the relationship can become prickly.

    There is a long way to go in the repair and re-establishment of Christchurch.  The Press and the EQC are two organisations critical to a successful outcome, and it is vital that they take stock of their respective roles and make the relationship work for everyone.

    For any business, dealing with reporters can sometimes be a fraught experience – never more so than in higher-stake situations such as this.  Getting professional advice is often the best course.

  2. Annual Conferences, key communication events or commercial craftiness?

    Published on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

    Annual industry conferences are key communications events for most sectors. The opportunity to hear directly from people who have particular insight or influence in your sector is a particular draw-card for delegates and sector commentators alike.  With this in mind, a small story in The Press last Friday bears some reflection.

    Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee elected not to be the keynote speaker at the Power & Electricity World summit, an annual industry conference, albeit organised by a commercial conference operator.

    Brownlee said that with major reforms going through the select committee process, he did not want to be forming any positions. While there may be a sinter of truth in the Minister’s explanation, the parliamentary process hasn’t stopped the minister boxing Meridian’s ears several times over its comments on the proposed reform, including in his op-ed piece in yesterday’s edition of the Otago Daily Times.

    As if to bolster his reasons for not speaking at the conference, the Minister also complained of the registration cost and commercial nature of the conference to which he was invited, as well as claiming he was being used to promote it, as “part of their product”.

    Mixed messages, indeed, from our Minister of Energy.  A reluctance to engage in debate while the reforms are before the select committee is not unreasonable.  But why then take to Meridian via the media on the same reforms?  Ministers will often specify entirely valid no-go areas when speaking at events, but it does not preclude an appearance.

    While the Minister may now be reticent about involvement in “commercial” conferences, what was his disposition when National was seeking to extricate itself from the Opposition benches? As I recall, any forum was a good one for National MPs, commercially-based or otherwise. 

    The realities are: Ministers are expected to deliver speeches almost anytime-anywhere, and although we may bridle against them, commercial conference arrangements are a reality for most industry sectors, largely due to the organisational and associated costs such as venues, catering and speakers’ travel.

    Politicians use these forums when it suits them, and it is a bit rich to be railing against such conferences once comfortably seated in a ministerial chair.

  3. Pearls before swine

    Published on Thursday, October 8th, 2009

    Ever had a press release sink like a stone? It can be heartbreaking when the intrinsic worth and value of beautifully crafted, timely and interesting key-messages get soundly ignored by the media.

    Well our newest heroine was not prepared to take it anymore. After Anna Wilding’s media release was spurned by the Christchurch Press, she took this rejection to a higher authority. Anna has chutzpah in spades. Take a look at the Press Council’s ruling out yesterday. 

    Case Number: 979 ANNA WILDING AGAINST THE PRESS
    Council Meeting MAY 2004

    Anna Wilding laid a complaint against The Press because the Editor, Paul Thompson, would not interview her or publish her media releases sent to him in February and March this year. The Press Council did not uphold her complaint.

    Anna Wilding had returned to Christchurch from Los Angeles where she is based. She expected The Press to publish her photos and details of her professional career as a local interest story. The Secretary of the Press Council advised Ms Wilding that the Council had consistently stated that editors were responsible for deciding the content of their publications and that such a complaint was unlikely to succeed. However she wished to pursue her complaint on the basis that other media overseas had published a portion of her press release, proving that it was newsworthy.

    Paul Thompson responded to Anna Wilding’s complaint that, as editor, he had sole discretion on the content of The Press and was not obliged to publish any news releases or interview her.

    The Press Council agreed with Paul Thompson and saw no grounds on which the complaint could be upheld.