Media tip: I never said that, did I??

If an interviewer uses emotive or negative language in his or her questions, don’t repeat it or paraphrase it. Use more positive language – that way you can avoid ending up being quoted in the paper saying things like “I wouldn’t say we’ve been duplicitous over this” when all you are trying to do is to deny the reporter’s possibly spurious allegation. “Duplicitous” is now the word that will stick in the reader’s or viewer’s mind, even though it’s one you would never have used if the reporter hadn’t. Better to say “I think we’ve been very straightforward in our dealings on this .. “