This video of a US hospital's PR guy wrong-footing a TV journalist well-known for his aggressive interview technique is hilarious.
My theory is is that hospital community relations director Marc Slavin knows that Dan Noyes hates being touched, so uses it relentlessly to get rid of him. He's obviously goading the livid reporter to lash out by the end - therefore creating the possibility of an even bigger story than the hospital trust fund that Noyes is trying in vain to investigate.
It doesn't quite work as Marc does come away looking a bit odd and obstructive - which isn't the way PR should work at all (remember the notorious iPhone launch interview, anyone?). But his actions do seem to completely wrong-foot an allegedly tough interviewer.
'his actions do seem to completely wrong-foot an allegedly tough interviewer'
Hardly! Anyone watching this thinking they might get a few tough questions on hospital mismanagement is going to be pretty clear these guys are hiding something big (regardless of whether they are or not).
Posted by: jesusjohn | May 28, 2010 at 14:59
I watched that with the sound off.
The body language is fascinating. Marc Slavin seems to be running interference and in some way protecting the woman that Noyes is trying to interview.
The shoulder patting seems to start as soon as Noyes approaches her and Slavin successfully distracts him from his task.
Brilliant!
Posted by: Ian Lewis | May 28, 2010 at 15:22
It's like a sketch from a Chris Morris show. The comic timing is amazing. The closing scene, with the last two pats on the shoulder is pure genius!
But, for a hard-nosed reporter to have such a exploitable weakness is also comedy gold.
After all, what interviewee isn't going to just get very tactile with him whenever he starts asking tricky questions.
Posted by: Will | May 31, 2010 at 18:53