Carry on Cara – How To Avoid a Delevingne-Style TV Disaster

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Handling Tricky Interviews Is Easier With Expert Media Training

Screen grab of embarrassing TV interview with Cara DelevingneYOU’VE probably seen the extremely awkward Cara Delevingne TV interview which went viral.

If you haven’t make sure you go check it out – although be aware you’ll probably end up watching it from behind your hands.

The supermodel turned actress endured one of the most cringe inducing interviews in recent history when she appeared on ‘Good Day Sacramento’ to promote her latest movie, Paper Towns.

In America a number of influential publications pinned the blamed for the debacle firmly on the 22-year-old Londoner, with a spate of critical headlines.

US Magazine proclaimed – Cara Delevingne Annoys News Anchors During Disastrously Awkward Interview.

While USA Today trumpeted – Cara Delevingne Gives Painfully Awkward Interview… And Gets Called Out For It On Live TV.

My tuppence worth is that both parties contributed to the awkwardness of the interview. Not least because the segment opens with one news anchor referring to her as ‘Carla’ (journalism 101 – get the subject’s name right).

It went downhill from there, with the local TV presenters coming over like some kind of parody of parochial news anchors in the vein of ludicrous movieRon Burgundy, the comedy TV news anchorman character, Ron Burgundy, played in the comedy Anchorman by Will Ferrell.

Meanwhile Delevingne’s aloof and sarcastic retorts left her looking like a rather prissy princess, who could do with lightening up. It’s worth remembering that she’s in the entertainment business – not neuroscience or astrophysics.

Cara isn’t the first and most certainly won’t be the last celebrity to be involved in cringe inducing TV snafus and there are many articles dedicated to the worst of all time – like this pick of six from the Independent, or this dirty half dozen from the Guardian.

One of the most excruciating was when Monosyllabic Meg Ryan left an audience of millions with their toes curling during a Parkinson interview which saw her advise the veteran interviewer to “just wrap it up”.

Normally cuddly Eammon Holmes was left looking befuddled when magician David Blaine appeared on breakfast TV and refused to speak at all – eventually holding up his hand with an eye inked on the palm.

Regardless of who is to blame, interviews like this are inevitable and always hold a morbid fascination for the watching public. Despite the discomfort, there’s still something compelling about watching such carnage unfold.

Crisis management from PR experts at Scottish public relations agency Holyrood PR in EdinburghWhich possibly explains why so many business people have such broadly unfounded fears of appearing in front of the cameras when their people, products or services are in the news. Yet if you are dealing with the media it is likely that you’ll be wanted on camera at some point.

While it is extremely unlikely you’d ever face the kind of on screen horror moment we’ve discussed here, a TV or radio appearance (in fact, any media interview) isn’t something to be treated lightly.

Indeed, when it comes to media appearances, there’s never been a truer adage than: “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”

That’s why media training is essential for any business person who is likely to be facing journalists, whether in print, online or on air – and whether that means conducting phone briefings with newspaper writers, giving opinion to niche bloggers or facing down a crisis in front of the TV cameras.

Make sure you’re perfectly prepared for your big moment in the media spotlight – with training and advice from award-winning PR experts.

Scottish public relations agency Holyrood PR in Edinburgh offers media training among its PR servicesThis is where we can help you out … making sure you are fully prepared for that moment in the media spotlight by teaching you all the tricks of the trade.

We offer insider tips to getting your appearance just right; expert guidance on how to handle the most testing questions and how to keep calm under fire; helpful hints to make sure you never forget the important messages you want to get across.

The expert PR team at our public relations agency in Edinburgh, boasts decades of front line media experience advising clients how to attract or react to media attention.

Drawing on that extensive experience, our public relations advisers are able to prepare bespoke media training for any organisation, from defence contractors to legal companies.

Media training is best delivered by people who spend every day dealing with the exact situations and scenarios you are likely to face – people like the team here, at an award winning PR Agency in Edinburgh, Holyrood PR.

We’d love to discuss your needs and come up with a perfectly tailored media training solution for your team. So call us on 0131 561 2244 or fill in the simple form below and we’ll get straight back to you:

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