Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan What people don’t understand about the art of political communication - with Terry Prone
Dec 3, 2025
Terry Prone, a veteran political communications consultant and author of 'I'm Glad You Asked Me That', explores the art of political communication. She shares insights on media training as a path to authenticity, not deception. Prone reveals why politicians often become wooden on air and critiques the clash between authenticity and media polish. She reflects on her experiences with leaders like Garret Fitzgerald and Charles Haughey, and highlights the unique impact of radio. Ultimately, she emphasizes the need for concrete communication over vague rhetoric in politics.
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Training Reveals, It Doesn’t Manufacture
- Media training should uncover a person's strengths rather than make them into someone else.
- Terry Prone compares trainers to theatre directors who bring out talent, not impose a performance.
The 'Red Light' Personality Flip
- Politicians often charm socially but become wooden under TV pressure.
- Prone sees this as a mismatch between informal conversational skill and interview performance.
Interviewing Became Competitive Performance
- Broadcasters increasingly treat interviews as adversarial contests with politicians.
- That shift, Prone argues, pushed journalism toward interruption and spectacle.
