Avoiding media interviews is a fair option if you’re not equipped to do them. Inquisitorial, “gotcha” interviews are popular media fare, but not very enlightening. If an interview is unlikely to deliver information or your views to audiences, you are under no obligation to be the means by which journalists feel superior or audiences entertained.
The Kamala Harris election campaign team has decided that she will not do media interviews. The tactic was always on the cards because the Harris ‘word salad’ interviews are the butt of jokes in the same way as Biden’s aimless walkabouts. Since nomination Harris has tried two high profile ‘interviews’; with CNN and Oprah Winfrey. Both showed she has got the hang of sticking to scripted platitudes, but doubt remains of her capability under pressure.
Not agreeing to interviews is becoming popular because there appears to be no downside. The distrusted media has little popularity with which to criticise your non-appearance. Digital media offers plenty of routes for your message to reach audiences unfiltered and uncorrupted.
We think there is a small downside, because it erodes public trust – but not as much as doing interviews poorly. On the other hand, doing interviews gives a massive uplift to those people who are even passable at being natural, direct, and informative.
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