How NOT to say "No Comment" (2024)

FAQs

How NOT to say "No Comment"? ›

First, always express a desire to cooperate, and follow with a reason why you can't respond directly to the question. You might open by saying: “I wish I could comment on that (or “help you,” or “share that information with you,” or something similar and relevant), (use reporter's name).”

First, always express a desire to cooperate, and follow with a reason why you can't respond directly to the question. You might open by saying: “I wish I could comment on that (or “help you,” or “share that information with you,” or something similar and relevant), (use reporter's name).”

'No comment' means that a person has been asked a question or has been asked to give an opinion, but chose not to answer. The reasons for making this comment vary. A judge or member of the government may not wish to answer a question or give an opinion so as to have the appearance of objectivity.

“Saying 'no comment' creates a bad perception in the media, and this perception is often equated with reality by the public,” Leisa said. “My strong advice is: don't say it. It's often seen as an admission of guilt, a sign of dishonesty, and portrays a complete lack of empathy,” Leisa said.

Understanding the Weight of 'No Comment'

These seemingly innocuous words can inadvertently signal to journalists that there's more to the story than what meets the eye. This lack of engagement might inadvertently fuel speculation or lead to persistent inquiries, creating unnecessary attention or suspicion.

No comment is a phrase used as a response to journalistic inquiries which the respondent does not wish to answer. Public figures, such as celebrities and politicians, may decline to comment on issues they are questioned or have nothing to say about the issue at the time.

Don't use the phrase itself. Develop and practice a few different stock phrases that stand in for "no comment" such as: "I'm sorry, but that information is confidential/proprietary." or I'm sorry, but I'm not able to answer that question at this time." or "I'd like to help you but unfortunately I can't."

Since anything you say can be used against you in court, by giving a 'No Comment' interview, you are exercising your legal right and avoiding the risk of inadvertently incriminating yourself.

What to say when no one responds? A polite follow-up message, expressing your continued interest and reiterating the importance of their feedback, can be a good approach when there's no response.

When should I say no comment? ›

If answering questions to the main allegation may involve the making of admissions to the lesser offence, the suspect may elect to say nothing at all. Occasionally, suspects who are not guilty of the offence will choose to say nothing so that they don't implicate someone else in the alleged offence.

No, it isn't. It's pretending that "no comment" means something it doesn't. Just because you want it to mean "yes" doesn't mean it means that. It means "we are not going to comment on this, because we have a sane legal department and we're not going to give you any information one way or another".

You could say something like 'I don't have the information to hand to answer that question right now, but I will get back you later' or 'I'm not the right person to answer that question, but I will get someone who can answer the question to contact you shortly'.

All that said, if the journalist is not someone you'd like to work with in the future (for example, if they aren't values aligned, or they misrepresented your work in the past and you don't want to work with them again), then all you need to do is politely thank them for reaching out and let them know you're not ...

Use 'I do something for you, you do something for me. ' This way you may be able to offload a task or project to make room for the new one without overburdening yourself. It's a fair exchange, not a No. Say Yes to the person and no to the task.