Tips for Media Interview

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Feb

2010

Media means communication tools used to store or deliver message, data or information. Media is the mean of communication, as radio, television, newspapers, and magazines, which reach or influence people widely. The term media can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies. It can be difficult to prepare for interview in any field but with the help of proper guidelines you can do to prepare for media interviews.

Key Points for Good Interview

Try to talk in casual terms by using little professional and technical jargons as possible. Explain your points with anecdotes & examples and keep your answers short.
Think before you speak. Elaborate 2-3 main points about your subject and collect facts, figures and interesting short stories to sport your points. Always get ready for anticipated questions which the reporter might be asked from you.
This is especially important for television interview to speak with complete thoughts in mind. Avoid from saying anything which you don’t want to read in paper, hear on radio and see on television or internet.
Be confident, you are expert.

Prepare Before Interview

Prepare your key message and predict reporter’s questions especially hard ones. Try to answer difficult questions as short as possible then make connection of your message. Prepare your communication objective with 2-3 secondary points.
It is best way to provide reporter with written summary of information, statistics or main points, if you can then do so. Reporters always need outlook of incidence like “How many people are affected? When did this incident happen? Is this having effect on national trends?” Don’t hesitate to provide the outlook of issue arisen even if the reporter doesn’t ask.

During Interview

Provide most important information at first and then provide background of issue. Keep your answer moderate to provide sufficient information to reporter.
Limit yourself on your main topic and control yourself to get drawn too far off from topic. Avoid from talking too much and repeat main points if it is necessary to get back on track. Mention your main subject by name several times during interview instead of saying “it” or “they”.
Make eye contact with reporter and avoid from over or under estimation about knowledge of reporter on your subject. You can also offer background information if you feel it necessary and don’t hesitate to set the record straight if reporter’s information is incorrect.
Explain about every thing either it is fact or your own opinion. If you don’t understand question then you can ask for further clarification. You can also tell the reporter about your source of information if possible. Avoid discussing hypothetical situation.
Avoid from saying, “No comments” or “Off the record”. If you cannot answer then you can say, “I cannot answer because I haven’t seen your referred papers”. Be honest, your answer must be based on truth and avoid from joke.