Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for. You’ve followed the steps in our past two blog posts (here and here), and a reporter is interested in an interview. Here’s what you need to find out to prepare for the interview:
The Interviewee
–Ask reporter for a list of questions so that the interviewee can practice. Answers for television interviews should be 15-20 seconds in length.
-Pick someone who will be able to talk comfortably about the topic.
-Be sure they have a list of talking points so they do not stray.
-Remind the interviewee to watch their tone of voice, posture, body language and eye contact.
The Interview
-Find out how long the interview will be.
-Dress to impress.
-Always arrive early.
-Don’t refuse the makeup- they know what they’re doing!
-Always assume that you’re ‘on air’, and remember that nothing is ever ‘off the record’.
-Always remember to point viewers to your website and social media sites for more information.
After the Interview
-Thank the host both in person and with a thank you card.
-Make an effort to keep a relationship with the reporter- you count on them for media coverage!
