Thread by @SusanDelacourt

So, if you'll permit, I have a rant about ministerial-media relations. It starts with an unsolicited offer to sit down with a minister for 20 minutes. I won't name the minister or the topic, to keep this about the principle, not persons/politics. (1/thread.) #cdnpoli

The topic was "progress on X issue over the past year." Which sounded a bit like: We want you to publish our annual report. (2/thread.) #cdnpoli

Because I know this minister, I said thanks and just so you know, I write about politics/issues of the day, so I'll of course be asking about X and X. (pandemic and racism related.) (3/thread.) #cdnpoli

And just like that -- interview cancelled. "Thanks for your offer." (wha?) So the interview I didn't ask for was only supposed to take place if I wrote talking points. I know, I should have lied. (4/thread.) #cdnpoli

Here's the pro tip for other comms people out of that episode. Media people aren't going to show up at a 20-minute interview to hear ministers talk about how great they are. That is advertising, not journalism. (4/thread.) #cdnpoli

Also, if you've offered an interview and the journalist has had the courtesy to flag issues in advance, suck it up and do the interview anyway. (And pro tip to me; number threads properly, this is 6 of 7.) #cdnpoli

And 20 minutes of talk of "progress in our ministry" is not an attractive interview offer, for rookie or experienced journalists. Come on. You have other platforms to "get your message out." That is all. Rant over. 7/7 #cdnpoli