How Outsiders See Us

In "Yes Prime Minister", Humprey had a radio interview with Ludovic Kennedy. When the interview was over, Sir Humphrey started a callous and supremely indiscrete comment onto government policy on welfare receipients and the like – all totally insensitive, including the phrase "parasites".

 

His mistake – thinking the radio mike was off when it was in fact left on.

 

"Always treat every microphone as a live microphone" warned Jim Hacker later on!

 

It is clear that Frank Walker has yet to learn that lesson. His off the cuff remark, seen by millions, along with his blustering attempt to cover it up, and his later comment that the interview was totally unprofessional, illustrate how it is easy to dig a big whole without trying, and his remarks were probably the most damaging made to Jersey's international reputation made during this time. For a start, he shouldn't have made it, on or off camera, and when he had made it, he should have apologised unreservedly, and said that the stress of the moment, he had come out with a foolish remark - that would have led to far more public sympathy than the bluster and prevarication that occured.

 

How outsiders see us? The extracts below, show just how badly Mr Walker has damaged Jersey's reputation in the general publics eye. It is still not too late for him to apologise, but in my experience, apart from the late John Rothwell (over the potatoe dumping), politicians rarely admit they are human like the rest of us, and make mistakes.

 

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http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080225142702AAPWATD

This story is utterly shocking - and from the news reports what makes it even more outrageous is the fact that the Jersey health minister who tried to bring these kinds of things to light was sacked! I watched newsnight last night on BBC2 and I couldn't believe what was being said - the Jersey Parliament official was more concerned with promoting Jersey as a tourist destination than addressing the issues that this was swept under the carpet - amazing!! it even showed a clip of the former health minister and the Jersey Parliament member on a radio interview, when the radio interview finished the two continued to bicker and the ex-health guy said "we are talking about dead children here" and the Parliament guy responded by saying "your trying to shaft Jersey internationally" when Jeremy Paxman asked him about these comments he denyed making them even though they were there on tape as plain as day!!!

I dont want to trivialise the horror of this story but seeing that man last night it reminded me of the film Jaw's where the mayor was more concerned with the effect a shark attack would have on tourism.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/brickedup-cellar-may-yield-truth-of-child-abuse-scandal-787265.html

Comments picked up after a radio interview between the island's chief minister, Frank Walker, and Mr Syvret highlighted the growing tension on the island. After the end of the interview in their Jersey studios Mr Syvret turned on his former political colleague and exclaimed: "We're talking about children here." Mr Walker responded: "You're trying to shaft Jersey internationally

http://www.mediafriendly.org/resources/news.php

Off the cuff, Off the record - don't do it!

There's no such thing as an "off the record" comment as Jersey's First Minister Frank Walker found out to his cost last night on
"Newsnight".

"You're trying to shaft Jersey internationally"

Not only is there no such thing as "off the record" this comment can also be misquoted by Jeremy Paxman several times before being corrected.

Childline's President, Ester Rantzen, as one would expect, is far too  experienced a broadcaster to follow Jeremy's leading question " you heard that didn't you?' but rather bridges neatly with her "what concerns me most" before going straight in with her key bullet points.

When an issue as serious as the Jersey inquiry into child abuse in the former Children's Home is being aired is not the time to try to "promote your reputation internationally". It's time to hold your hands up, recognise that things have gone badly wrong and need to be resolved. Going into denial or dodging the issue is not the response of a caring, responsible organisation, it will only bring further mistrust and a host of hostile questions.

BBC "Newsnight" is a great place to find examples of how to handle or how NOT to handle media interviews.