How to get news reporters to not ask you anything?

Question

Hello,

I was wondering, If a reporter with a camera runs up to you and tries to ask you questions is there a way to get them to not put any of it on the news report?
a clause anywhere or something where if you don't release your "interview"?
do they need your signature?

Answer 1

you could act stupid,
you could say no comment
you could run them down with your car, steal the camera and go to jail for the rest of your life

or you could do nothing to make yourself obvious to anyone so that if a report runs up to you, they are looking for someone else

I would caution you and anyone else to remember, nothing you say is off the record, and the film can be edited to make you really look evil, or like God's gift to mankind.

be careful with them, once spoken, it is for life or long after your dead

Answer 2

Your response would depend on why they want to interview you in the first place. If they're just asking people random questions on the street and you just wave your hand and say "no thank you" they probably won't run it. Unless of course the story is about how people are unwilling to talk on a certain subject.

If you're the target of a story because your in some controversy, the worst thing you can do is refuse to answer questions or keep the clip off the news. This immediately makes you look guilty. If you're worried about this happening, the best thing to do is to prepare your statments and answers to questions before hand, so that you're not caught off guard. It's always best to be as open and honest as you can, even if it makes you look bad in the short term. Eventually, people will think better of you for handeling the media professionally.

Answer 3

I once heard some celebrity used to use curse word in his dealing with the reporters just to make his comments unusable. He would not curse at the reporters, he would just liberally toss in curse word into whatever he said to them.

The best bet is to not talk to them. You don't have to answer if they ask you a question. You are not under a news reporter oath. Remember, if you do say anything to them, they can use it. Unless, of course, you had a contract with the reporter specifying what can be used or asked or whatever.

Answer 4

Once a camera starts to roll in front of you, it becomes a case of "damn if you do, damn if you don't."

If you do answer a reporter's question, of course, that's news material. If you don't, the story would be something like: "Mr. Vick refused to comment when asked about the dogfighting brouhaha..."

The media have the last say in such things.

Answer 5

Easy answer - no, the don't need your permission to run your image on the news.
In public, you have no expectation of privacy. That is particularly true if you are a public figure, or become a public figure by comitting a crime or doing something else noteable.

Answer 6

Reply in any language except English. Even if you don't know any other language, make one up on the spot. They will shut off the camera and stow the microphone away because they can't handle it!