This resource was commissioned for the event, When Religion Makes the News, but it applies to anyone working in communications or PR.
- Think carefully about the advantages and disadvantages before accepting an invitation for a TV interview
- Decide who from your organisation should be interviewed
- Find out beforehand the purpose of the interview, the context, the line of questioning
- Is the interview live or recorded? Recorded interviews can be edited…
- Prepare thoroughly in advance; determine your objective in doing the interview and your key messages
- Choose your clothing carefully and check your appearance
- During the interview, sit up straight, look at the interviewer, speak clearly
- Avoid nervous mannerisms
- Don’t read from prepared notes
- Immediately before you start, ask what the first question is going to be
- Remember your ultimate audience is the TV viewer
- Get across your main point as quickly as possible – don’t let yourself be sidetracked
- Correct any mistakes the interviewer makes
- Avoid jargon or complex language
- Avoid sounding hesitant
- Don’t be defensive
- Don’t let the interviewer have a harmful ‘last word’
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Copyright of author, Christine Warwick, PR Consultant