The seminar we kind of “co-hosted” today was a bit of a bust. Or else I don’t really get what the whole point of the technical assistance program from which we are “benefiting” is. Of the twenty market participant… participants that were invited, only four showed up – all from the same institution. It was a good series of presentations, but I think we really could’ve gotten more out of the whole thing. I did get to meet quite a lovely fellow (the resource person), though, with whom I think I’ll try to keep in touch.
On my way out, I happened upon a colleague sitting at a registration table in front of another meeting room. There was clearly something going on, and I was curious. A press conference? For the release of the Inflation Report for the 4th Quarter of 2007, you say? Oh! Well. I’ll have a little sit-in and see what these things are like! I knew I’d be at work ’till 7 anyway, to wait for the traffic cops to stop paying attention to the last digit of my plate number.
Unfortunately, the two big cheeses were stuck in a Monetary Board meeting and couldn’t come up to the press con as they usually do. The venerable Managing Director of the MPSS, whom I quite admire, conducted the press con instead. I must say, the woman did a fine job as per usual.
One notable aspect of her manner of presenting is the speed at which she delivers thoughts. I was telling my seat-mate, dear Mr. DL, that listening to MD CTA was like looking at a Monet. Chock-a-block full of information, her mile-a-minute presentation didn’t give you much room to dwell on details. You had to get an impression of the entire thing to know what was going on. Never mind trying to take detailed notes – by the time you jotted two letters down, she was on to the next six words.
The room was full of press people. Folks as eclectic as they come. All intent on hearing the latest from the proverbial horse’s mouth about where prices were expected to go and where the economy was headed. After her punch-packing report on inflation and its outlook, she asked the full room whether there were any questions. There were none – a bit shocked, I asked dear Mr. DL whether it was standard fare. Well, the Gov and Deputy Gov weren’t there as they should have been, so of course his answer was “no”.
We dallied a bit, and I saw a handful of press folk swarm around MD CTA. So, no questions while everyone had ears pressed against the air in front of the meeting room, but questions after. And dear Mr. DL said, yes. Typical. They’re asking about exchange rate. I shuffled closer all mouse-like and overheard CTA say, like a rock, “…well we’re not prophetic, we make mistakes, we may change our assumptions.” Steady on course, things to learn here. How to handle the press.
I took a pit stop on my way out, and washed up in the marble-ous restrooms of the Executive Business Center before I made my leisurely way back to my office. As I approached the EBC exit, I spied MD CTA flanked by several press folk. I walked briskly by and, as I recall, heard her saying “…definitely less than 50″. Now I’m not entirely sure to what she was referring. But I had a good idea.
I suppose that’s why they’re called the press.
At any rate, the whole thing got me thinking… about information and behavior. But that’s for another time, another blog.
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