As you do from time to time, a group of journalist colleagues and I were ruminating the other day about the worst interviews we had seen on TV.
The list is endless but we all agreed an outstanding example was Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith being quizzed on Channel 4 News about his election budget.
During the 13-minute, finger-wagging confrontation Goldsmith accused presenter Jon Snow of “deliberate and outrageous” lies and warned the programme to “watch it”.
A clearly irritated Snow responded by informing the MP for Richmond Park he was “in trouble” and that if he had a grievance he should take it to the independent regulator Ofcom.
And so it went on …
The clash followed a report on Channel 4 News the day before which claimed Goldsmith had spent far more on election posters and leaflet than he was supposed to. He vehemently denied this and had evidently appeared on the programme to set the record straight. But all he succeeded in doing was make himself look an arrogant fool, which by all accounts is anything but the case.
It was a classic example of someone letting their anger get the better of their judgement and failing to prepare adequately for what was always going to be a tricky interview (which became a massive hit on YouTube).
You fall into the same trap at your peril!
PS Goldsmith did make a complaint to Ofcom and lost.
For advice on how to keep your cool in media interviews – and plenty of practice – talk to us about our media training courses. Contact us on 020 8332 6200 or info@roughhouse.co.uk
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