DEALING

WITH

THE MEDIA

HIGHLY-RANKED TEAM

USC’S ATHLETIC TRADITIONLOTS OF MEDIA ATTENTION

NO. 2 MEDIA MARKET

Click icon to add picture

WE EMBRACE

MEDIA

ATTENTIO

N…SO

SHOULD

YOU!

• All that media attention: that’s why it is important to have a good relationship with the media

MEDIA’S ROLE

TROJANS CHEERLEADER≠

• Media’s role is to report…good and bad

• The media is not the enemy…one of our constituents

• The better you treat the media, the better they'll Treat YOU

MEDIA’S ROLE

BECAUSE YOU ARE A USC ATHLETE, EXPECT MEDIA

COVERAGE 365/24/7• ON AND OFF THE

FIELD• YOU LOSE YOUR PRIVACY BECAUSE

YOU ARE AN ATHLETE• THAT’S NOT FAIR,

BUT IT’S THE REALITY

INTERVIEW

SMAIN

WAY YOU’L

L INTERACT

WITH MEDIA

• Be smart

• Be humble

• Respect your teammates,

coaches, opponents

• Be positive (take a negative question and turn it into a positive answer)

INTERVIEWS

• Don’t make predictions

• Anticipate questions, have message points

• Remember, media can ask you any question but you control the answer

• You DON’T have to answer a Question…

• Off the record …if it comes out of your mouth, expect it to be used

INTERVIEWS

• You don’t have to do an interview, however… it’s easy to talk in good times, but fans see your character in times of adversity

• Watch how Pros talk to the media, learn from them

• DON’T give your phone number to the media, tell them to contact the S.I.D.

INTERVIEWS

• Appearance is important

• Hats, gum, jewelry

• Body language, eye contact

• Learn media’s names, say THANK YOU

INTERVIEWS

You are building YOUR “brand”…

starting now!

There are no private moments…

you are always “ON”

SOCIAL MEDIA

• If you don’t want your MOM to read or see it, don’t post it or tweet it

• Social media trolls: •NCAA•Media•Future Employers (including Pro Leagues)