Backdrops matter

(Photo credit: Nikki Khan, The Washington Post)

This photo of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson reinforces the value backdrops play in shaping public opinion. It appeared in The Post's coverage of a U.S. Senate hearing on the Bush Administration's proposal to shore up financial markets. To the hurried reader skimming The Post on a busy Wednesday morning, backdrops like this can be more impressionable than the articles themselves. Secretary Paulson was testifying on the Senate's turf and therefore had little control over the room. Yet the image reinforces the old adage that "pictures are worth a thousand words."

The same goes for any organization seeking to influence public opinion. Womble Carlyle has managed hundreds of press conferences and interviews utilizing unique images and backdrops that say a thousand words. Whether holding a press conference, hosting a forum, or conducting an interview on television, consider utilizing a backdrop that helps convey your prepared message.