Don Martin Public Affairs Blog
No response is sometimes the best response |

Sometimes the best response to a story you don’t like is no response.

I nearly always advise a client to respond to an attack or respond to a reporter working on a negative article. After all, if you don’t tell your side of the story, who will?  But  sometimes that’s not the best strategy.

The problem with responding to a negative story — even if you feel it’s wrong — is that your response may keep a bad story alive longer than it would live on its own.

What if the negative attack is true?  Attacking a negative story that’s clearly true just draws more attention to the story while picking a fight you can’t win.  That’s a losing strategy.

It can be painful not to respond back.  I have a recent client who followed the path of no response.  A TV reporter did several stories (no doubt trying to enhance his own cred at the sttaion), but no other TV stations picked it up because we didn’t make it a larger story by responding. 

Here’s my question for you next time you find yourself tempted to respond to a story you don’t like:  Will your response really make your point?  Or will you just keep a bad story alive for another news cycle?

Portions re-printed from Monday Morning Media Minute.

Our new blog is at: http://www.donmartin.com/dm_blog



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