No questions please!

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Shouting reporters push back at Pearson plane presser

If you caught the end of last Monday night’s news conference at Pearson Airport following the Delta plane crash, you might have caught the shouting reporters at the end of it. After officials wrapped their statements and told reporters when and where to expect updates, they politely thanked the media and left the microphone – without taking questions. Reporters were not happy and let it be known! Officials not taking questions became a short, fleeting storyline for some news outlets.


I have no idea whether no questions was a deliberate decision or strategy in this case, and questions were taken at other airport news conferences, but I’m of two minds on what I saw at Monday night’s presser:


As someone who spent two decades in news, I understand the reporters’ frustration. This is a major story and there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. Q&A’s at news conferences are common, traditionally expected, and are about openness and accountability. There’s often not a lot that an official can say in the early stages of such a major incident, but they’re usually trained in how to respond to questions they can’t answer while avoiding speculation.


On the other hand, the media world has changed, and communications experts know that. Engaging in a Q&A adds an element of risk that most organizations would prefer to avoid. Organizations know they can distribute a controlled message directly to audiences through different platforms, and most traditional news organizations will also still pick up those messages word-for-word. While the reporters in the room were not happy, the general public is likely not putting much thought into the issue of reporters not getting to ask their questions.


🔵 The takeaway: So, should you take questions or not in a presser where you worry about risk and speculation? Mitigating risk is always a goal, and just because something’s traditionally been done a certain way — like taking questions — doesn’t mean it needs to continue. But, when doing media training, I encourage clients to always take the high road and consider the long-term relationship with journalists. Avoiding questions isn’t going to help. As the media landscape further fragments and the relative importance of old vs new media shifts, organizations need to ask themselves how much those relationships still matter, especially when they’ve got other options for getting their message out.


All that said, journalists also need to realise they’re just one way for organizations to get their message out (unlike 15-20 years ago), and they too need to think about relationships with the people they cover. Shouting at them likely isn’t all that helpful.

How AI can be a helpful follow-up tool after a Media Training session

By Michael Melling • April 29, 2026
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly useful tool in professional communications, including media training. While AI cannot replace traditional media training led by experienced professionals, it can serve as a valuable resource for follow-up practice after formal training sessions. Traditional media training helps spokespeople learn essential skills such as delivering clear messages, staying on topic during interviews, and handling difficult questions from journalists. Trainers often simulate real interview scenarios and provide feedback on tone, body language, and message clarity. These sessions are important because they prepare individuals for the pressure and unpredictability of real media interactions. After completing media training, AI tools can help individuals continue practicing these skills. For example, AI can simulate interview questions that a journalist might ask about a company, product launch, or industry issue. This allows spokespeople to practice answering questions out loud and refining their responses. AI can also generate unexpected follow-up questions, helping users strengthen their ability to think quickly and stay focused on key messages. In addition, AI can assist with reviewing and improving responses. Users can type or summarize their answers and receive suggestions on how to make them clearer, more concise, or more engaging. This kind of practice can reinforce the techniques learned during professional media training sessions. However, AI does have limitations. It cannot fully replicate the pressure of a live interview, interpret body language, or provide the nuanced feedback that an experienced media trainer can offer. Human trainers bring industry experience and real-world insight that AI cannot replace. Ultimately, AI works best as a complementary tool. When used alongside traditional media training, it can help spokespeople maintain their skills, practice regularly, and build greater confidence in media interviews.

Using AI to help you practice thinking on your feet

By Michael Melling • April 29, 2026
It can’t replace real-time human thinking, but it can serve as a practice partner and preparation tool to help prepare for real conversations. Here are several ways AI can help: ⭐1. Practice with Simulated Conversations AI can simulate conversations, interviews, or debates. By practicing with AI, you can get used to responding to unexpected questions or ideas. For example, you could ask AI to act as: 🔵A job interviewer 🔵A customer with a complaint 🔵A debate opponent This kind of practice forces you to form responses quickly, which helps build confidence in real-life conversations. ⭐2. Generating Practice Questions AI can generate challenging or unpredictable questions about a topic. Practicing answering these questions out loud helps train your brain to organize thoughts quickly. For instance, if you are preparing for a presentation, AI could create possible audience questions so you can practice responding clearly and calmly. ⭐3. Improving Idea Organization AI can help you learn how to structure answers quickly. It can suggest simple frameworks for responding in conversation. Practicing with these structures can make it easier to respond quickly in discussions. ⭐4. Building Topic Knowledge Thinking on your feet becomes easier when you understand a topic well. AI can help you quickly learn background information, explanations, or different viewpoints, giving you more ideas to draw from during conversations. (Just make sure it's accurate!) ‼️Helpful, but with limits Where AI is limited as a practice tool for verbal communication is its inability to provide feedback and coaching on your performance to help you improve even further. Verbal communication, whether its in an interview, meeting, or one-on-one interaction involves so much more than just the words you say – how you say things is often just as important as what you say. This is why it’s important to have a trusted human partner who can provide coaching and guidance to help you become the best verbal communicator you can be.

Artificial Intelligence can help with your communications, but verbal skills still need to be prioritized.

By Michael Melling • April 29, 2026
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how we communicate, especially in writing. Tools powered by AI can help people draft emails, summarize long documents, correct grammar, and adjust tone for different audiences. These technologies make written communication faster, clearer, and more accessible. For students, professionals, and organizations, AI can save time and reduce the stress of writing by offering suggestions and helping structure ideas effectively. One of the biggest advantages of AI in written communication is clarity. AI tools can review a message and suggest ways to make it more concise and professional. They can also help people who struggle with grammar or language barriers express their ideas more accurately. In workplaces where communication happens through emails, reports, and messaging platforms, AI can improve efficiency by helping people quickly create well-organized and understandable messages. However, while AI is a powerful tool for written communication, it cannot replace the importance of strong verbal communication skills. Speaking clearly, presenting ideas in front of an audience, and responding to questions in real time are abilities that require practice and confidence. Skills like thinking on your feet, explaining ideas verbally, and engaging with others in conversation are still essential in many areas of life, including meetings, interviews, and public presentations. Verbal communication also allows people to convey emotion, build relationships, and show authenticity in ways that written communication often cannot. A strong speaker can adapt their message based on audience reactions and respond instantly to new ideas or challenges. As AI continues to improve written communication, it is important for people to remember that communication is not only about writing. Developing strong speaking and presentation skills remains just as valuable. The most effective communicators will be those who use AI as a tool to enhance their writing while continuing to build their confidence and ability to communicate verbally.