The Democratic National Convention 2024 in Chicago was a masterclass in media training. By analyzing the communication strategies of key political figures like Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, and Barack and Michelle Obama we can learn valuable lessons about what to do (and what not to do) when speaking to the media. This blog will break down these tactics and offer practical tips for effective media training.
Blocking & Bridging with United States Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg was interviewed by Fox News during the DNC. To begin, interviewer Lawrence Jones stated that per the New York Times, all of President Biden’s cabinet meetings have been scripted and that the president’s business hours are 10AM-4PM. Rather than give these statements any more airtime, Secretary Buttigieg responded saying that sometimes it seems that conservative media and the republican party still believe they are running against Joe Biden instead of new nominee Kamala Harris then went into the contents of Biden’s speech saying he had a chance the night before to announce what his administration achieved during his time.
This tactic of blocking the question turned a potentially damaging inquiry into an opportunity to showcase the party's strengths. He then successfully bridged into the contents of Biden’s speech. Although he was placed in a high-pressure environment by the interviewer, he used communication skills to avoid any more potential damage done by the question. Buttigieg has previously stated that he enjoys being interviewed by conservative outlets because he believes some facts may not otherwise be aired in those spaces if he does not do so himself.
Keeping it to Soundbites with Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow’s speech at the DNC garnered a lot of attention, but possibly for the wrong reasons. Senator McMorrow spent the entirety of her speech flipping through and discussing Project 2025 rather than explaining what her party would do if re-elected. Rather than spending a large amount of time on the opposition’s strategy, we suggest simplifying the message you are intending to convey.
Although McMorrow did not do the best with this, Vice President Kamala Harris did a great job addressing the DNC. Kamala’s speech lasted roughly 40 minutes, but her message was clear throughout. She often added anecdotes or stories to help the audience learn more about her, but her message was clear, “Never complain about injustice, but instead do something about it.” Her ability to focus on her own party’s agenda as well as simplifying her message allowed the audience to better understand and further accept her.
Graceful Recovery with President Joe Biden
Next, we want to highlight a strong recovery by President Biden. Towards the midpoint of his speech, when discussing women’s abortion access, Biden tripped over his words when referencing a direct quote from the US Supreme Court. Biden simply looked up from his notes, took a two second pause, and continued his speech. Mistakes happen, especially while public speaking, however it is not the mistake that is important, but instead the recovery. Biden was able to recover smoothly by taking a breath and collecting his thoughts, rather than speeding through his speech or worse trying to skip over the fumbled portion of the speech.
In contrast, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers struggled to maintain fluency during his speech at the DNC roll call. Despite attempts to recover, he was unable to overcome his verbal stumbles. When faced with such challenges, we advise pausing briefly, regaining composure, and then continue with your message, as Vice President Biden demonstrated.
Commanding the Room with the Obamas
Lastly, we want to commend the Obamas for their exceptional crowd management skills. Both Barack and Michelle demonstrated a remarkable ability to maintain composure and deliver their messages effectively, even in the face of enthusiastic crowds. Michelle, in particular, showcased a subtle yet powerful technique. By gently motioning downward with her hands, she was able to calm the audience without disrupting the flow of her speech.
Barack Obama gave his speech directly after his wife, so the crowd was still amped up, and he understood this. When discussing Trump’s failure to secure the border, some hecklers expressed distaste. Barack directly pointed at the person and said, “Do not Boo, Vote!”. He was able to directly address the heckler and allow his response to tie it into his message. It may not always happen this way where you will be able to handle crowd reactions in a real-time and fluid manner, but we wanted to highlight this as a great moment of crowd control.
In Conclusion
Public speaking and being interviewed are typically live action situations. Adapting these tactics into your own public speaking repertoire and/or your media training toolkit will assist you in tackling some of the things that may seem unable to predict such as crowd reactions, baiting interviewer questions, or a stutter of your own.
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