Politicians are a mobile lot, looking for a photo opportunity at every turn.
A media pack chasing you around a shopping centre might seem annoying to most of us but politicians generally love that sort of publicity.
In the world of politics photo opportunities are crucial.
The unfortunate downside is that journalists, camera people and photographers get bored.
For them it’s just another shopping centre, another walk about, another photo op. So they’re always looking for something a little bit different.
At the same time, politician’s media teams are always on the lookout for danger.
The big danger that everyone tries to avoid is a political photo in front of an ‘exit’ sign.
But let’s be fair dinkum about this, you can’t avoid every potential problem – sometimes they just slip through.
A photo of Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, standing in front of the discount store ‘The Reject Shop’, is a perfect example of a politician being in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
Really, it could be argued that a photo like this is not in the public interest or anybody’s interest. Why would you publish it? Who cares?
But if an opportunity like this presents itself, there’s not a photographer or camera person who is going to knock it back. Especially when the debate about rejecting Mr Abbott seems endless.
If you’re outside the world of politics, situations like this one probably won’t be a major concern for you. But it’s an important reminder to be in control of your background if you’re appearing in the media.
Photographers and camera people generally aren’t trying to stitch you up visually but they are under a lot of pressure to deliver interesting photos and vision.
So before you are photographed or filmed, look over your shoulder and make sure you’re happy with the background.
If there is anything about the background that you’re not happy with, speak up.
Simply tell them that this isn’t working for you and then suggest a different location.
You don’t want the photo or vision to take away from your message – you certainly don’t want to send the wrong message.
Photo opportunities are great but be aware of what’s in the background.
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/Abbott-Reject-Blog-Pic.jpg195350corporatemediaserviceshttps://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.pngcorporatemediaservices2015-06-05 13:36:372019-07-07 11:20:02This Photo Opportunity Should Have Been Rejected
Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, made an election eve promise not to cut funding to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).
The Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, weighed in with mixed messages.
Once Mr Abbott’s memory had returned, he admitted he did say there would be no cuts to the ABC and SBS, “Of course I made that statement” he said.
Why it took so long for him to admit this is anybody’s guess.
The whole saga looked messy and ridiculous.
If you say something in the media it’s on the record. If you need to backtrack it may come back to haunt you.
Don’t try to make out something hasn’t been said in the media if it has. If you deny it, the media will soon jog your memory.
Journalists will simply latch on to your statement and hound you as they have done in this case.
If you’ve said something and you need to backtrack, do it as soon as possible.
For example, Tony Abbott could have said something along the lines of, “Yes…I did say there would be no cuts to the ABC or SBS but due to the state of our budget, I’m going to have to break that promise.” That’s pretty much where he wound up in the end anyway.
Pretending that something wasn’t said when there is proof it was, is a futile exercise. You’re eventually going to have to backtrack and it’s better to do that sooner rather than later.
Failing to be upfront at the beginning can do a lot more damage, as it has in this case.
It will simply keep the story going for longer and have a terrible impact on your credibility.
Remember:
Don’t deny you’ve said something in the media when clearly you have.
If you’ve said something in the media and you need to backtrack, do it sooner rather than later while being conscious of any legal considerations.
One of the main ingredients of a successful media profile is credibility. It’s hard to gain but very easy to lose.
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A wink of the eye can say so many things. You can give a reassuring wink, a flirty wink, or even a conspiratorial wink.
This small and simple physical gesture can send many different non-verbal signals.
Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, was reminded of what a wink can mean as he took calls during a filmed radio interview.
A 67 year old female caller, unhappy with the 2014 federal budget, said that to make ends meet she worked on an adult phone sex line to subsidise her pension.
As he listened, the Prime Minister winked and smiled when he heard her occupation, and the footage went viral.
Was his wink mocking the caller in amusement? Or, as his press secretary suggested, was he simply winking his approval to continue on with the call?
Whatever the Prime Minister’s wink meant, it was open to interpretation and sent a mixed message. Did the Prime Minister care about the budget concerns of this person or not?
Body language is a crucial part of the media process, especially when TV cameras are involved and although Mr Abbott later admitted he shouldn’t have done it, the damage was already done.
Verbal and visual media messages must match
What you say in the media isn’t the only message the audience hears loud and clear. Your body language can sometimes deliver a major message and if it doesn’t match what you’re saying, beware!
As with any message, the more it personally resonates, the more the audience will take notice.The worse the news is the more attentive and critical the audience will be.
The Australian public had their ears peeled and their eyes wide open as they watched Australian Treasurer, Joe Hockey’s, 2014 federal budget speech.
His speech was an ultimate showcase on how mismatched body language can damage a spoken message.
The budget address is a carefully staged event. The House of Representatives cameras are strategically placed to ensure they get a good shot of the Treasurer speaking, with the Prime Minister and a range of backbenchers sitting behind him.
The job for everybody behind the Treasurer is to nod, look concerned and interested at all of the appropriate times.
In this example, the body language of relevant people should convey the message that the government is standing solidly behind the Treasurer as the Australian public hears the harsh budget news.
For some unexplained reason, Prime Minister Tony Abbott decided to have a chat to those sitting next to him during Joe Hockey’s speech. He was even seen having a giggle and covering his mouth with his hand.
This was an appalling look when the Treasurer was delivering bad news to millions of Australians.
The audience could interpret the Prime Minister’s amusement as flippant disregard for how the budget would affect them, even if his laughter was completely unrelated.
Treasurer, Joe Hockey, also left himself wide open by dancing in his parliamentary office in Canberra to the strains of ‘This is the Best Day of My Life’, before delivering the budget. His excuse – the song is one of his son’s favourites and his son was with him at the time…but that’s not the point.
His body language and media messages didn’t align. He was inappropriate and his behaviour left him open to scrutiny.
The first question veteran Australian journalist, Laurie Oakes, asked Joe Hockey on budget night was why he danced before delivering the speech. That interview question pretty much derailed the Treasurer’s budget message.
Dancing when you’re about to deliver a budget that will negatively impact millions of Australians just isn’t a good look for the country’s Treasurer.
A photograph is as powerful as video
Body language sends just as strong a message in print and online media as it does on TV. A picture paints a thousand words as the old saying goes.
Only days before the budget speech, Treasurer Joe Hockey was feeling the heat after being snapped smoking a cigar with the Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann.
Both men were probably just relaxing after the gruelling process of pulling together such a tough budget. The problem is that cigar smoking is often associated with celebration.
Unfortunately the Treasurer’s audience, mainly the Australian voting public, had little cause to celebrate the federal budget.
Joe Hockey’s body language should have supported his verbal message that times were tough. All of his media exposure during budget time should have been sending a message of empathy and understanding to his audience.
Instead he was doing a jig a stone’s throw from the National Press Gallery and puffing on a cigar.
Media examples like this exist on all sides of politics right across the globe. Politicians are accountable to the public so they are constantly scrutinised by the media.
When big news is breaking in the media you should always be conscious that there are cameras and journalists everywhere ready to catch all appropriate and inappropriate moments.
Remember
In the media, your visual and verbal messages must be in sync
Body language is powerful and speaks volumes to your audience
An inappropriate photo or video can derail your message
If your body language and verbal messages don’t match you might find a different message has reached your audience
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/Abbott-Wink-Image.jpg191274corporatemediaserviceshttps://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.pngcorporatemediaservices2014-05-29 14:39:192019-07-07 11:21:27Abbott's wink - Body language in the media
