For example, the spokesperson may relate a story of a child he or she knows who had experimented with tobacco and how Teens Against Tobacco Use turned the person around. When a spokesperson is asked a series of questions by an interviewer, he or she should pick the most desirable question to answer. It's up to the interviewer to remember the other questions in the series. The spokesperson should talk to the interviewer, not the camera. Spokespersons should not comment on a reporter's facts and figures if not reasonably certain that what is said is correct.
Silence is golden.
After a spokesperson answers a question, he or she should stop. If an untruth is made, politely refute it to ensure the accuracy of the story. After the interview, if an untruth is made in the finished story or the report is edited in a way that blatantly misconstrues the spokesperson's comments, the Teens Against Tobacco Use coalition should agree on strategies for possibly correcting the error. Reporters and editors are human. The coalition shouldn't be afraid to point out significant mistakes, but should not nit-pick.