Graham Linehan Quotes

I view myself as having an adversarial approach to the media.

Donald Trump is not intimidated by the media, and he's not frightened by them, and in fact he loves toying with them. You know, while they're sitting there wringing their hands and taking things so seriously and it's the end of the world, Trump is laughing and having the greatest time.

Rude interviewers are ten a penny, and politicians have long since learned how to cope.

When you interview celebrities, they're so guarded so many times, they can't reveal anything.

I think reporters think that they can get something extra out of a person face-to-face, but in reality people just give stock answers because there's a social situation going on.

I don't like giving interviews unless I have something to talk about. Why bore people and why bore media?

There’s nothing worse in politics than releasing facts one at a time.

[In a political contest,] the first guy who defines the other, wins

In politics, you don’t have to love the press; you don’t even have to like the press, but you sure as hell have to feed the press.

Avoid both infatuation with or resentment of the press.

There are two things that you should never do in front of the TV cameras. You should not make love and you should not make peace.

You should never fall in love with your own press clippings, because it is very much the nature of the beast that the same journalists who build you up between Monday and Friday tear you down for weekend fun...

Nixon knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish in his four interviews with David Frost, quite apart from having his agent Irving Paul Lazar negotiate a terrific deal for him, with cash up front.

Is there some reason why the quality of people going into the parliament is not as high? I don't know the complete answer, but I think - in fact, I'm sure - that part of it is the increasing intrusiveness of the media - the general media and social media - into the private lives of politicians and their families.

I normally have a healthy fear of journalists.

Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a disaster. But when it is with you, everyone just ignores it.

In the age of Trump, we need to be aware of emotional rhetoric and its power regardless of whether or not it's based in fact.

I know I could have a better public image if I were less open, if I ducked more issues and didn't speak out. But it's not my nature.

The youth of the ANC, ever since 1944 when it was established, has been very vocal. It has made suggestions on things so that, at times, old people said, 'What are you doing?' That is its nature. Alliance partners, they have always raised issues. In fact, that is what brings vibrancy in the alliance. People misread that as huge fights.

Obama has proved to be particularly adept at using the media to disseminate his administration's messages, but he is a masterful orator. Bill Clinton, too.

You give a press conference, and they'll pick one word, they'll pick two words. The media is still out to write what they want to write.

I hate talking to media. I hate it, man. You have to. But it's crazy. I thought there were only two things in this world that you had to do, and that was die and pay taxes. Now I know that you've got to talk to media. And I hate it.

Talking to the press, you say things a little differently.

I don't always agree with how everybody handles the media, just like they probably don't agree with how I handle the media and things that I say.

A lot of reporters don't have conversations - they just fire off questions. I'm going to listen to what you're saying. If you start giving me a pat answer, I'm going to challenge you. That's where my sports background helps, because athletes do it all the time. So you have to stop them... and sometimes they're going to yell back at you. So what?