Assessment 6
Question 4
Which of the following are helpful suggestion to get your message across with journalists?
Select one or more:
| A. Build professional relationships with journalists who you think you can trust to maintain high standards. | |
| B. Be proactive and contact journalists if a rumour about vaccine safety starts to circulate. | |
| C. Keep your messages simple and to the point. | |
| D. Journalists want to hear complex scientific information. Make sure to use academic jargon or complex arguments. | |
| E. Remain polite but authoritative – if you feel not confident to respond to a difficult question, respond with ‘No comment’. | |
| F. Give contact phone numbers and/or email addresses so the journalist can follow up on the story or check facts with you later. |
Answer A, B, C and F are correct.
Answer D
Do not use academic jargon or complex arguments – this may lead to misunderstanding and frustration among your audience.
Answer E
Responding to journalists with ‘No comment’ may lead to acrimonies. Be willing to answer questions and be completely honest. If you are not sure of the facts, do not be evasive or speculate., but offer get back to journalists with this information shoertly after the interview.