Every Story Has Two Sides To It. Beware.
- Nov 10, 2016
- 2 min read
In Public Relations, the ultimate goal is to generate goodwill for the company you are working for. Therefore, when something bad happens within the company, the public relations representative “spins” the news to show the company in a positive light. The representative also tries to convince journalists to use the information provided to them, is information they need to run their story.
How do people spin news? Check out some ways below!
Doublespeak: Language that is intentionally used to hide or disguise the truth. People use flamboyant words that make people truly thing and decode what they are saying.
Spin: It is still unclear if it is utterly untrue that the tiger escaped without the help of a staff person on duty.
Non-spin: It is still unclear if the tiger escaped with the help of a person on duty.
Euphemisms: Replacing harsh words with words that sound nice.
Spin: 3 girls passed away today after they consumed fish that was contaminated.
Non-spin: 3 girls died today after eating poisoned fish.
The non-denial denial: Not answering the question by accusing the question of being absurd.
Spin: I will not dignify that question with a response.
Non-spin: Answers question.
Non-apology apology: Apologizing while not accepting any sort of blame.
Spin: I am sorry that you think I am a mean person.
Non-spin: Apologizes for being a mean person.
Cherry picking: Only using facts that support your position.
Spin: One thousand phones were purchased within the first hour the store’s grand opening.
Non-spin: One thousand phones were purchased within the first hour the store’s grand opening. While 800 were returned because of defects.
It is up to the journalist to seek the truth and report the truth to the public, whether it is good or bad. Some of these are just some ways that the story can be spun. Next time reading a story look carefully for some of the wording that is used and you be the judge.
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