Teleprompters: They're not just for Presidents
When last we met, I reported on the 2012 Ragan Speechwriters and Executive Communicators Conference in Washington. I wasn’t the only blogger at the conference and I wanted to share with you comments from other speechwriters who attended.
Ian Griffin reported on a presidential speechwriters panel in which former White House scribes talked about the 2012 campaign. I completely agree with Chriss Winston’s comments about how the Republican candidates are more focused on each other and the process than they are on the issues that voters are concerned about.
Deja vu all over again
That seems to happen in every election cycle. The candidates, their strategists, the media, and the pundits get caught up in a tornado of criticism and analysis that sucks everything else out of the campaign.
Reminds me of a time I went to the Humane Society to adopt a dog. I found a splendid border collie who spent all his time barking at the other dogs and could barely focus on charming me. I had to get him away from the shelter to find out what a fine fellow he was.
Kate Middleton, please don’t read
There was also some talk at the conference about teleprompters – of course – since President Obama uses them often. As Nick Morgan points out, there’s no shame in using a teleprompter, especially if you’re the leader of the free world and you make multiple speeches a day.
Teleprompters used to be so expensive that only heads of state and other deep pockets could afford them. But now, they’re easily affordable for almost any speaker. I’m sure money was not an issue for Kate Middleton in her first public speech a few days ago. A teleprompter would have helped her delivery immensely.
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