禮節(jié)美語(yǔ):246 Preparing for a Media Interview 2

公司主管 Lenny 要接受媒體采訪，請(qǐng)媒體咨詢公司的Carl幫他準(zhǔn)備。Carl告訴Lenny, 記者一上來(lái)會(huì)問(wèn)幾個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單問(wèn)題，但不能因此而放松警惕。Carl說(shuō)：

C: Remember to keep your game face on. It's really important not to seem surprised when they ask the first difficult question. You don't want to have a moment where it seems you're on the defensive.

L: All right...I'll be expecting tough questions. What kind of controversial topics do you think they might cover?

C: I'd be ready to answer questions about anything. Your company's stock price has recently taken a dip, your CFO left your company and joined a rival firm, there was a product recall last year and sales for your latest gadget have been disappointing.

L: Wow...I see what you mean. So overall, what do you think my response strategy should be?

Carl告訴Lenny要 keep your game face on. 保持戰(zhàn)斗姿態(tài)。game face 原指球員場(chǎng)上比賽時(shí)的面容表情，引伸為志在必得的樣子。 這樣做是因?yàn)?，軟?wèn)題過(guò)后，記者出其不意，提出第一個(gè)刁難性問(wèn)題時(shí)，you don't want to seem on the defensive. 你不想讓人看出你處于被動(dòng)防守的狀態(tài)。記者什么樣的問(wèn)題都可能問(wèn)，比如：公司股票最近下跌，take a dip; 公司首席財(cái)務(wù)長(zhǎng)官跳槽到對(duì)手的公司;跳槽在英語(yǔ)里可以用 jump ship. 如，Your CFO jumped ship to join a rival firm. 另外，公司最近有產(chǎn)品因?yàn)橘|(zhì)量問(wèn)題被召回，而且最新推出的產(chǎn)品銷量也不盡人意。遇到這樣的問(wèn)題，Lenny該怎樣回答呢?

C: The main thing is to focus on the positive. Yes, our stock price has been a little volatile... but we are on course for a third quarter rebound. Yes, it was unfortunate that our CFO chose to join our rivals, but the opening has given us a chance to hire fresh blood and incorporate new ideas.

L: I see your point: don't evade the question, but try to twist it towards the positive.

C: Exactly! And you need to appear confident and strong.

L: What kind of tone would you recommend I take with the interviewer? Friendly? A little distant?

Carl說(shuō)，被問(wèn)到這種難堪問(wèn)題時(shí)，關(guān)鍵是要 focus on the positive. 強(qiáng)調(diào)積極的一面。比如，公司股票價(jià)格最近是有些波動(dòng)，但是 we are on course for a third quarter rebound. 第三季度預(yù)計(jì)會(huì)出現(xiàn)反彈;雖然高管跳槽，但這樣我們才有機(jī)會(huì) hire fresh blood 雇傭新人。歸根結(jié)底一句話，不能回避問(wèn)題，但要從積極的一面來(lái)回答問(wèn)題。接受采訪時(shí)采取什么樣的態(tài)度最合適呢?Carl回答說(shuō)：

C: Stay friendly but remember: they're not on your side.

L: I guess that's the same as when I'm at any business negotiation.

C: Yes. Use the interviewer's first name...especially at the beginning of the interview. But don't overdo it, because that sounds insincere.

L: These are all really good points, Carol. Maybe we could meet again next week. I think I need a little bit more practice.

C: Sure. I'll have your secretary set up the appointment. See you next week, Mr. Lee.

L: Goodbye, Carol.

Carl說(shuō)，態(tài)度必須友好，但是要記住，they're not on your side. 采訪你的人不是站在你這邊的。Carl還建議Lenny從采訪一開(kāi)始就用記者的first name名字稱呼對(duì)方，這樣顯得親切，但 don't overdo it. 也不要顯得過(guò)份熱絡(luò)。Lenny跟Carl約定，下星期再演練一次。