When the Reporter Calls, be Ready! 7 Tips for Acing that Interview
You have been identified as an “expert” or resource for a story idea or topic a reporter is working on. And they pick up the phone, give you a call and want to interview you! Here are five things you can do to prepare yourself:
1. Ask for more information - Before the interview, ask the reporter to give you an overview of the questions he or she will ask. This let’s the reporter know you are interested in addressing the areas the reporter needs more information on, and that you are the right person support specific points he or she may want to make.
2. Find out who else is being interviewed. Then you can assess whether you are being called on to support — or disagree with — information from another source.
3. Create a list of possible questions a reporter might ask regarding your area of expertise. Write down your answers and practice what you’re going to say so that when the interview opportunities come up, you will project a voice of authority on the topic. Keep in mind your key message points and make sure you weave them into your answers.
4. Be concise and consistent in your responses. If you do change your position on a topic, be sure and le the reporter know why you have done so. Practice talking in bullet points. It will make it easier for the reporter to accurately record your responses. Give details only when asked for more information. Should more information be needed, the reporter will ask for more details.
5. Don’t speak in company jargon. Oftentimes the reporter will not be familiar with those terms (acronyms are the worst) and your story could end up in a trash heap instead of on top of the pile, ready to be published.
6. If you don’t know the answer, say so. Tell the reporter you will be happy to do some research and get back to her; this suggests to the reporter that you are willing to be a resource and also helps build rapport with her or him.
7. End the interview on a positive note. Even if the subject is heavy or really serious, ending on a positive note may be the first thing the reporter remembers when she writes the story and the last thing the reader remembers when your story is shared.
For more great advice on working with the media, check out our Media and Public Relations Audio Program at: http://www.womensmediasummit.com/audio-recordings-on-sale-now/.
