TV Image and Media Expert

My phone started ringing off the hook after news spread about Rev. Jesse Jackson’s disparaging remarks about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama. My friends and acquaintances are very aware I have a history with Jackson, and it is truly a professional history. They wanted to know my thoughts regarding his comments.

O.K., here you go. Jackson admitted to making, “crude and hurtful remarks about Obama” following an interview with a Fox News correspondent. As a man who has been in front of media for more than 20 years, should he have been surprised that there was an open microphone? The answer is really simple: No!

My thoughts: What Was He Thinking?

You see, I had the opportunity to cover Jackson when he ran for the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988. I personally interviewed him a few times in addition to covering his campaign and speeches. I found him to be extremely media savvy, and very adept at answering any reporter’s tough question even in front of a live news camera. So, what happened? Envy, jealousy, a momentary lapse of good judgment – who knows?

What I do know is this: whenever there is a television camera pointed in your direction, whether it has a red light or not (the red light symbolizes that it is “on” and you are on-air), or if you have a microphone pinned to your lapel, whether they tell you you’re on or not, BEWARE! It could possibility be what we call a “hot mic” as Jackson found out. You should never, and I mean never say anything inappropriate or “crude and hurtful” when you are near a microphone. May Jackson serve as an classic example of this.

I have one more embarrassing example to share with you regarding the importance of being aware of a potential hot mic. When New York’s WNBC popular local news anchor, Sue Simmons, screamed the F-word during what she thought was an off-air moment, it made national news. Despite her popularity in New York City, she had to publically apologize for her unfortunate, but very public, mistake.

Now, I admit I have made some bloopers on camera, but none of them have been off color or anything that I had to publically apologize for. Do you know why? I am always conscience of both the microphone and camera being there.

So, as the world’s leading TV image coach and media expert, I pass that advice on to you. You absolutely have a right to your own opinion, now whether you want the world to hear it, is another story. Take my lead and spare yourself the humiliation. If you are going to make a side comment, please take the microphone off, or cover it up, or keep it far away from you. Truly, the best way to handle a moment like that is to remember what you and I were taught as children: if you can’t find anything good to say about somebody, don’t say anything at all.

To your shining in the spotlight,

Alice Collier
TV Image Coach

P.S. For more amazing insider secrets about how to be a confident and compelling guest on TV, visit my website www.tvimagecoach.com. I also have this incredible ebook called “Get TV Smart” that just went on sale this week. Visit www.GetTvSmart.com. In addition to this power-packed ebook, you can also download not one, not two, but seven podcasts of interviews, six of them with sensational national and local news journalists from around the country who give you their insight about how to be a dynamic guest during any media interview.

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