"In the Arena"

One year after completing his tenure as president of the United States,  Theodore Roosevelt gave what many consider to be his most famous speech in France. Formally titled "Citizenship in a Republic," in the following years it has come to be known as the "in the arena" speech. Following is a passage from it: "......It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming......."

These remarks by Roosevelt are as bold as they are memorable. Inspirational is another descriptive that readily applies. I cannot help but apply them to the communicator whose job it is to provide voice on behalf of others: the spokesman. It is this professional's job to present him or herself before a microphone and address questions and comments from reporters and the public, many of which are unforeseen, challenging, disrespectful, provocative and pointed. Yet the spokesman faces them all  because that is their job and many times there is no one else to do it. Often, chief executives pick and choose their moments to be interviewed. Spokesmen do not. 

 I often view spokesmen as being among the communication industry's first responders. Particularly when controversy is in the air and others are turning away or hiding behind "busy schedules" or stonewalling, it is the spokesmen who moves toward the press and others demanding answers and explanation. Their task is not easy. These communicators prepare themselves as best they can knowing full-well there is no guarantee what they say will be reported or quoted fairly or accurately. What price will be paid if and when this happens is another unknown. Yet they step in front of the microphone any way because if they fail, in the words of Roosevelt, "at least (they) fail while daring greatly."