Selling Yourself in Confrontation and Media Interviews 93
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Selling Yourself in Confrontation
and Media Interviews
C 93 c
IT’S AMAZING HOW confrontational we are.
Confrontation has become increasingly prevalent in commu-
nication. It often replaces civilized dialogue. People with oppos-
ing views start shouting, arguing, and going through the verbal
equivalent of a fistfight. Unfortunately, there’s no escape.
Every day we get to see the media practicing its version of
“investigative journalism.” We’re constantly watching reporters
play “gotcha” with politicians, business leaders, healthcare pro-
fessionals, and clergy. No one is immune from the treatment. If
you woke up this morning, you’re fair game. In fact, not even the
coffin excuses you from the treatment.
More and more, we’re subjected to a right-leaning TV analyst
facing off against a left-leaning colleague. They’re really close
friends, but arguments build ratings, so they yell and scream at
each other for half an hour, then go out and enjoy dinner together.
The aura they create is that incivility is acceptable. Just as
violence in film and television often inspires copycat acts, so, too,
do tabloid television and hate radio.
The “me” syndrome
We watch otherwise decent people behaving as though the world
belongs to them. You’ve seen the person whose flight was cancelled
screaming at the gate agent. Or the person at the checkout counter,
yelling at the store clerk. Or the parent of the little leaguer who
thinks the coach made a colossal mistake and disapproves in an