Sunday 24 / November / 2024
It is very obvious that journalists in Oman have to work harder for stories than in any other areas of the world. It is not an easy ride to inform the public. A journalist has to use improvise tactics to get a story published without the source raising objections.
In the business world, the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of large corporate houses release information sparingly. They would tell you that journalists often misquote them when they talk publicly. They prefer to issue press releases but these are so scanty and vague that are useless most of the time. Journalists wonder how could investors be properly informed about their investments if CEOs don’t reveal how exactly the companies they control perform.
From personal experience, I have learned how the minds of leading corporate leaders work. You don’t get much from them in their offices or anything new when they are surrounded by advisors. A rich businessman or a top executive never walks around meeting people in our part of the world. They just sit where they please and their loyal entourages bring important people to them. In my case, the entourage serves no purpose at all. To them, journalists are a nuisance and not important enough to get near their bosses. However, corporate leaders are not stupid. They may not want to talk publicly but they seize an opportunity to get heard in a less conspicuous way. In business events, their gaze would rest on a journalist and a little wave would follow.
We know that it is an open invitation to talk to them. To read the mind of a business executive before they say a word is very important to journalists. It starts with a casual shake of hands. If the grip is firm then they want to be in tomorrow’s news. If the grip is weak then they have something they don’t want us to find out. Whichever way, they make an effort to look like they are pleased to see a journalist. I guess you don’t get to the top in business if you keep rubbing the wrong side of the press. They know when to maintain a tight lip. At the same time, they can deliberately let loose a word or two.
To run a huge business is not without frustrations. CEOs have to please the board of directors and at the same time keep the rein of control tight. When they cannot get their business policies across the table of the board, they resort to different ways to convince the directors. When they are in that situation, the sudden appearance of a journalist on a social occasion can be a godsend gift for them.
“Let’s go and get a drink,” They would say then they would lead you to a quiet corner away from their entourage. An experienced journalist has to be quick because a CEO would not come out directly. You would need to lead him to the direction he wants to go.
A typical question would be something like,” do you expect it to be a good financial year?”
It is what he needs to get his message across. Since it is done in the most innocent way, you would not produce your notebook to jot down his grievances. However, the message is clear and that he wants you to publish the story without quoting him. This is how they get even with the Board of Directors. As I said before, there’s more than one way of getting a CEO talk.
