Stay on Message
Strategies
- State your key message from the outset.
- Example: “I want to begin by first saying that the risk to the public is very low.”
- Return to your key message(s) frequently.
- Example: “As I said a moment before, the risk is very low.”
- “Bridge” back to your key messages.
- When the conversation strays, use transitions to return to key points. For example, if a reporter asks a question that is not related to your key points, answer the question, then bridge back to what you want to say.
- Examples:
- “Another thing to remember is…”
- “What all this information tells me is…”
- “Let me just add to this that…”
- “[response to question]. And in addition…”
- “Before we continue, let me take a step back and repeat that…”
- “And as I said before…”
