No Comment A “No No”

Here’s a great piece from my friend Nick Vehr at Vehr Communications. It’s 8 tips for Media Spokespersons.  It’s all good stuff.  And the overlap I see between Nick’s world and mine arises pretty frequently.  Trials draw a lot of media attention.  Whether it’s a high profile criminal case involving a bombing at the Boston Marathon or a copyright infringement suit over the rights to “Blurred Lines” – the media is interested.   

And I run into clients and other lawyers who still think “no comment” is the appropriate response to media inquiries.  I’ve never thought that was a great idea, and in talking to PR folks over the years I’m even more convinced.  That’s not to say clients should spill their guts in response to every question, but they shouldn’t make themselves look like they’re hiding something or otherwise miss the chance to advance their own message.   

To use a cliché, one size does not fit all.  Picking the right message and the right spokesperson seems like a no brainer.