HOW TO HANDLE MEDIA INTERVIEWS.
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010Dealing with the media is stressful and challenging even for seasoned veterans. Some simple interview rules (led by preparation) can serve as a checklist to prepare you for stepping in front of the lens. While most of these rules seem intuitive, I witness people on a daily basis falter.
Know what you want to say and how you want to say it – Ask yourself what am I trying to accomplish and who is my audience
Practice, prepare and have a message – Sounds simple enough, but without practice and preparation, the results usually speak for themselves (not in a positive way)
Body language- a roll of the eyes, a harsh look, or a awkward physical stance speaks louder than words
Be honest and consistent – hypocrisy is a killer
Don’t keep talking – Many stories have grown legs overnight by interview subjects who continued to talk
The bottom line is, you don’t learn to drive a car without practice, you don’t master your craft without learning, and it is very difficult to master media interviews without proper training.
At this PR firm, we always advise media training – it’s a necessity.








