Final answer:
Ensuring a consistent message is a best practice when engaging with media, which helps maintain credibility and effectively conveys an organization's narrative. Staying open to diverse media outlets can also enhance trust and visibility, rather than limiting interactions to favorable outlets.
Step-by-step explanation:
When participating in media inquiries, a best practice is to ensure your message is consistent. This aligns with the notion of speaking in one unified voice, a principle observed during the Reagan White House strategy for media management. It helps in maintaining credibility and aids in the efficient delivery of your organization's or campaign's narrative. Moreover, it's essential to stay on the offensive, controlling the flow of information without succumbing to media sensationalism. While reaching a broad audience is important, it should not compromise the substance and consistency of the message communicated to the public.
Visibility through the media is indeed crucial, especially for newer candidates or issues that require public attention. While it may seem advantageous to only agree to speak to media outlets that are favorable to your organization, it can narrow the reach and could potentially undermine credibility if the organization is seen as avoiding scrutiny. In the dynamic media landscape, audiences seek reliable information, and demonstrating transparency and openness to diverse media outlets can reinforce trustworthiness.