SO many big political events these days are simply about 'the optics'.
The idea is that nothing unplanned occurs and that the message being delivered is clear and undiluted.
Even when political leaders do press conferences they tend to be stage managed; the journalists hand-picked by officials, more often with the aim of ensuring an uncontentious question is asked for which the answer has been well rehearsed.
Monday's visit to Belfast by Theresa May, her first since becoming prime minister, was very much in this vein and arguably took the approach to new heights.
The media were told to be in place at Stormont Castle an hour-and-a-half before Mrs May arrived for her meeting with First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, which isn't especially rare.
However, it soon emerged that the prime minister wouldn't be doing a 'doorstep', whereby she'd take questions from the assembled reporters.
She would instead deliver a statement inside the castle to a single 'pool' camera provided by either UTV or BBC.
Naturally, there was a degree of disgruntlement among the media at this odd arrangement, and particularly from the broadcasters who'd brought satellite vans to the venue especially to capture Mrs May's words.
After some shuttle diplomacy, it was agreed that the prime minister would allow a single written question to be asked and it was subsequently agreed that this would relate to her assertion ahead of last month's referendum that some kind of checks would be necessary along the Irish border if Britain left the EU.
Shortly after 11am, a cavalcade of cars rolled up and came to a halt as the prime minister appeared from the rear door of a black Range Rover.
Wearing a cerise dress and navy blazer, she was greeted by Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness before skipping up the Stormont Castle steps in her trademark kitten heels and disappearing inside.
An hour later as Mrs May left, it was pretty much the same again, only this time without the first and deputy first minister.
"She didn't even wave," complained one of the press pack as the prime minister stepped into the back of the Range Rover and was whisked away.
Returning to their respective offices having spent the best part of three hours encamped outside Stormont Castle, journalists were greeted with an email from Downing Street outlining the prime minister's ever so brief thoughts on that morning's meeting.
It may have proved a useful exercise for Mrs May, who has pledged that the devolved administrations will be involved in her government's Brexit discussions, but imposing North Korea-like restrictions on what information can be shared is unlikely to win the hearts of the region's media or its citizens.
