Avoid a Hot Mess from Hot Mics
Last week, President Trump was caught on a hot mic sharing details about his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Regardless of your political stance, one truth remains: gaffes like these should never happen, and as much as we don’t love to point fingers, the responsibility primarily lies with the communications staff’s protection practices, but the principal will ultimately need to be hyper-aware and on message.
Whether you are a politician, a bureaucrat, a celebrity, or a spokesperson, hot mic slip-ups are a nightmare scenario for any organization. They are so common that several years ago, Time Magazine even compiled a “Top 10 Hot Mic Moments” list showcasing some of the most notorious examples, and this week, the Associated Press offered these hot mic examples with this lede, “Behold the power of the humble hot mic.” (Hat tip: Jim Long)
But as familiar as these moments may be, they still have consequences depending on what is said:
The statement may conflict with official messaging, creating distrust.
The statement may sound incompetent, creating distrust.
The statement may reveal more than your organization is ready to share, creating distrust.
Do you see the theme? Hot mics breed distrust among your audience. And often, the unguarded comment becomes the headline instead of the key messages your organization intends to deliver.
Some information is justifiably not ready for public consumption. It can create safety issues, present the organization with legal troubles (such as with revealing financial information improperly), or reveal confidential information (such as personnel details, undeveloped plans, competitive advantages, etc.).
What makes this problem especially frustrating is that it is preventable. Communications teams – and anyone wearing a mic or located near one – should operate under the assumption that if a microphone or camera is in the room, it is live and recording. In conversations with network audio technicians this week, we learned there are several other places where conversations on hot mics are vulnerable to being recorded. Beyond TV studios, voices can also be picked up from pool cameras at courthouses, government events, and press conferences, often through feeds that get embedded on websites and accessed outside traditional TV subscriptions.
With today’s technology, even if a “studio fader” isn’t open to broadcast, conversations can still be heard through what’s known as “pre-fade listen,” explained Jeff Goodman, a longtime NBC News broadcast engineer who began his career in 1974 and was stage manager the night President Nixon resigned. He retired in 2018 after 44 years.
So, how does a communications pro prepare? Here are a few steps to avoid a hot mic disaster:
Brief your team on hot mic risks and include media training. Everyone should understand that if cameras and microphones are present, they must remain on high alert. Assign responsibility for monitoring who from your team is near a mic or camera, and put clear practices in place to prevent unintended remarks from being picked up. Develop a code word for a hot mic, because you will be warning your team in front of media.
Practice in Action: On a recent media tour, the spokesperson wore several lapel mics. To stay mindful, the comms lead used a discreet signal—tapping the spot on her own body where the mic was on the spokesperson—as a reminder she was on the record throughout the tour.
Know your spokespeople. If someone tends to share off-the-cuff remarks, jokes, or confidential information, think twice before putting them in front of a microphone early. You can hold off moving them into place or delay having the lapel mic placed on them. Once the spokesperson is near the mic, assign a team member to closely monitor the situation.
Practice in Action: If the speaker begins to say something that shouldn’t be recorded, interrupt them with a nondescript question, “Pardon me, would you like a bottle of water?” Take that opportunity to use the code word or action to remind them they are on the record. This approach should be used sparingly, and only when really needed. An example where this practice went (way) too far was seen in the Belichick CBS Sunday Morning viral interview.
Check all equipment thoroughly. If no one is speaking, microphones should not be on. Even with multiple checks, always assume mics are live.
Practice in Action: On a recent media tour of a new housing development, the spokesperson had on a lapel mic. When the tour was over, the reporter wanted to see some of the areas that would not be in the story. The comms person removed the lapel mic from the spokesperson and turned the mic off.
No matter how careful you are, Goodman warns, one truth remains constant.
“The title of my book would be: The Mic is Always Hot,” Goodman said. “The only way not to get caught is to keep your mouth shut. Not just in the studio, but in the hallways and even in front of buildings. Today, security cameras also have mics, and they are hot.”
Goodman’s advice highlights the discipline required to keep private comments from slipping into public, especially as technology creates more opportunities for hot mics to pick up what wasn’t meant to be heard.
At the end of the day, a hot mic moment is less about technology and more about best practices on your team. The most effective leaders and teams practice awareness in every setting, understanding that credibility is built not just by what is said intentionally, but also by what is overheard. Staying prepared ensures your message remains in your control, not in the hands of an open microphone.