by TJ Walker
A good media message is short. Ideally, you should be able to say everything you deem important on a particular subject in 30 seconds or fewer.
If it takes you longer than 30 seconds to get your message out, you really haven’t applied enough discipline to the editing process. If you are still talking after 30 seconds, you are likely going on to the fourth, fifth or sixth message point – save those for your speeches, not your media interviews.
Do whatever it takes to make your message short and sweet. If you have to tape a picture of Napoleon or Danny DeVito to your computer, then do it. Once you run over in a media interview, you lose your focus and your ability to control your message.
During his presidential campaign in 1980, Ronald Reagan’s message to the media was that, as President, he wanted to cut taxes, strengthen defense and restore traditional values. Bill Clinton’s message in 1992 was that he wanted to create more jobs and improve health care. The one thing both messages have
Whether you liked or disliked either man or their policies, they were both successful, in part, because they learned to keep their media messages short and to just a few points. Unless your job is more important than being President of the United States, you would be well advised to keep your media messages short, too.
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