"They took that out of context. I didn't really say
that!" Or, "That's not what the reporter called
about!"
Reporters are people, too. They make mistakes and occasionally
get it wrong. No matter how carefully you communicate, there is no
guarantee that reporters will get your quotes perfectly right or
report everything you want them to.
You can increase the odds that reporters will get your story
right and prevent yourself from being misquoted by doing the
following:
- Direct the reporter to the appropriate person.
When a reporter calls, make sure you are the best person to talk on
this subject. If you're not an expert, or if you're unsure
of the content, refer the reporter to someone who can give accurate
information – hopefully someone in your company. If not,
help the reporter find someone else, even if it's a competitor.
The reporter will appreciate your efforts, and chances are he or
she will call you again.
