Political spouses & media (Split fm The Khadr Thread)

[Edward Campbell]

The headline in the Globe and Mail says: MacKay’s activist wife calls for Ottawa to bring back Omar Khadr. The story quotes Ms. Afshin-Jam as saying, “So I’m not saying that he shouldn’t be kept in prison but definitely I think it’s time to bring him back to Canada. He was a Canadian citizen and he can be tried here or looked after here in terms of how long his sentence is going to be or what is going to be his fate.”

She's right.

Not because of anything Khard was or wasn't, not because of anything Khadr did or did not due but, rather, because this is a two edged issue and we, Canada, are on the wrong side of each. First it is a legal issue and our government is trying to bend and stretch the law for political, essentially partisan public relations, reasons ~ that's not what governments ought to do. Second, and even more important, this is a political issue and it is festering. The best way to solve a political problem like this is to meet it, head on, lance the festering boil and get it off the front page and move on.

 

[Journeyman]

She's right.

I whole-heartedly agree.....except....

Repatriating Khadr is both correct and inevitable, but I have no illusions that the issue will move off of the front pages. Stereotypes are often grounded in fact; there's an impression that we are awash in ambulance-chasing lawyers who would be more than happy to argue the little tyke's oppression. Couple that with a media pre-disposed to lead with anything anti- government, and this isn't going away regardless of how it plays out.

It's too late for that.

 

[Edward Campbell]

I whole-heartedly agree.....except....

Repatriating Khadr is both correct and inevitable, but I have no illusions that the issue will move off of the front pages. Stereotypes are often grounded in fact; there's an impression that we are awash in ambulance-chasing lawyers who would be more than happy to argue the little tyke's oppression. Couple that with a media pre-disposed to lead with anything anti- government, and this isn't going away regardless of how it plays out.

It's too late for that.

Sadly, I fear you're right, too.  :-\

 

[The Bread Guy]

.... "you can't control what they ask or what they write, only what you say" - from her FB page:

This afternoon while here in PEI I was asked to come to the Guardian offices to sit down and do an interview about my new book The Tale of Two Nazanins; but instead the journalist Jim Day did not ask me a single question about the book and made an obvious effort to draw me into a discussion criticising the government. When responding I specifically qualified that what I said was my personal view. I am very disappointed that once again my personal view has been distorted. After I expressly and emphatically told him numerous times that I was tired seeing my name continually left out of interviews and referred to as "The Defence Minister's wife"...this is exactly what he chose to do. As a result of today's experience I am extremely disappointed with the Guardian and I will think twice before speaking to them again. I am confident that Mr. Khadr will be transferred back to Canada. Let's leave it to the Canadian and US governments who have all the facts and details about the case to take the proper actions in due course.

Signed,

Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay
International Human Rights Activist
President and Co-Founder of Stop Child Executions

And the reporter's response, via the National Post?

.... in a stout defence of his story and the Guardian, Day questioned that if Afshin-Jam was so bothered by being known as “the defence minister’s wife,” why was she then associating herself with private Conservative events?

“Mrs. Afshin-Jam was on Prince Edward Island Wednesday to speak at a dinner hosted by the District 17 Progressive Conservative Association. I doubt this came about as a result of her title as former Miss World Canada or due to her admirable activism work,” reporter Day wrote in an email to the National Post.

“Most logically, the attraction of having Mrs. Afshin-Jam speak to the Tory faithful was due to her being the wife of one of the most powerful Conservative politicians in the country along with the fact that she has a book to promote.”

(....)

While Afshin-Jam said she was “disappointed that once again my personal view has been distorted” in her Facebook post, she did not say Day quoted her inaccurately.

Day said “Afshin-Jam was free to refuse comment on Khadr but she freely chose to answer my questions.” ....

 

[Teeps74]

Hmmm, sad... I would suggest, that when a reporter asks for an interview and submits the topic and or questions in advance, and then decides to go off that topic, just end the interview. It is highly likely that the reporter has an agenda.

No one has to speak to the press, ever. No politician. No soldier. No police officer. No citizen. No little green space man. If it played out as Mrs MacKay has indicated, I would suggest that the reporters rebuttal did not heal the rift, and in fact torpedoed his credibility with Mrs MacKay. Shame, to lose a potential subject so cavalierly.

 

[ModlrMike]

Ethics in journalism takes another step towards the edge of the cliff.

While you can't control what they ask, surely there's some responsibility to not have the interviewee agree to one subject and then switch to another. Bait and switch is a detestable practice regardless of the arena in which it is practiced.

 

[PuckChaser]

Ethics in journalism takes another step towards the edge of the cliff.

While you can't control what they ask, surely there's some responsibility to not have the interviewee agree to one subject and then switch to another. Bait and switch is a detestable practice regardless of the arena in which it is practiced.

I think she did a fairly good job of answering questions and stating that it was her personal opinion, which she is completely entitled too. This journalist only saw big headlines and a way to make it out of his PEI newspaper. I'd agree with you though, if he lied to get me there, I'd simply just walk out until he was ready to be truthful.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Really, is anyone even remotely suprised? :

 

[Maxadia]

From the Guardian? No.

From Mrs. McKay?  No.

 

[The Bread Guy]

One more tidbit on Ms. Afshin-Jam and her interview (full editorial attached in case link doesn't work), highlights mine....

....  She was upset the lead of the story referred to her as MacKay's wife. But her name started the second paragraph, which was also just the second sentence of the story. And she was upset with the headline: Time to bring Khadr home: defence minister's wife.

Now, full disclosure: The Guardian is owned by the same company that owns this newspaper. But really, our view would be the same regardless: as the wife of a prominent government figure, you should know the rules of engagement when you speak to the media.

If it comes out of your mouth, it may appear in a story.

A journalist isn't speaking to you to pass the time, or because s/he likes you - they're doing their job and want a story to write based on the conversation you're having.

You will be described in the story in the terms most meaningful to readers. Nazanin Afshin-Jam means less to readers than "wife of the defense minister," regardless of how you wish to be known.

When you say controversial things, they will probably be the focus of the story.

If you want the story to be about your one cause - promoting a book, for example - only say interesting things about that one subject.

And when you're used to the public eye, as she should be, any claim to not knowing the above rules will fall on deaf ears ....

There you go - Media Relations 101 Aide Memoire.....

 

[a_majoor]

One little protective device can save your bacon if you are interviewed by the Legacy media or a member of the Blogosphere: a "smartphone" that can record what is going on.

Many American politicians are now in the habit of doing their own recordings and videotaping of interviews in order to have an accurate and unedited transcript of the interview, but they have the resources to have a camera crew and media consultants of their own. For people at our level, pulling out your smartphone (or having a friend do so on your behalf) gets the unedited record; and being able to post it instantly on YouTube or your social media site will probably save you a lot of grief.

Provided you have your brain and mouth engaged at the same time.....