By Katie Belton
Media interviews can be a positive experience if you are confident and prepared for your interview. Learn to identify what reporters want out of your interview and prepare accordingly. The most important element of your interview is the message you are trying to convey to your target audience.
When you know a reporter is going to be interviewing you, the first thing you need to find out is what the story is about and when their deadline for the story is. This will give you a good idea of how to start preparing for the interview.
Prepare at least three talking points that will help you get your information across. The Public Relations Society of America describes the importance of a prepared message.
Think like a reporter. If you know what kinds of questions to expect, then you can easily generate simple, confident answers. Learn how reporters interview. It is likely that your interview will be cut down to 20 seconds in the editing process.
The reporters will only use the sound bites they like. So, keep your answers short yet informative, and don’t provide unnecessary information. Remember, you are the expert on your topic and you should have confidence in your answers. Always keep eye contact with the reporter and avoid looking at the camera while you are talking.
Your appearance says a lot about yourself and the company you are representing. Dress appropriately and look your best. You should wear your company’s attire or dress conservatively and professionally. Your body language is also part of your appearance and you should avoid nervous, fidgeting habits while talking. Also, never chew gum or play with your hair while being interviewed.
Practice your interview skills with someone beforehand and go over all of your talking points. Prepare for difficult questions and develop appropriate answers, Ricky Telg’s EDIS document will help you prepare further.
Practice the tone of voice you are going to use. Your voice can hold the audiences’ attention, but it can also bore the audience if you speak in monotone.
After your interview, evaluate your performance and improve for your next interview. Ask yourself if you conveyed your objective message, if you answered the reporter’s questions accurately, if you maintained eye contact with the reporter, and if you projected a positive image for yourself and the company.
Learning to interview with the media takes practice, but it gets easier with experience. Your interview will have a positive outcome with proper preparation and knowledge.
