5 tips that can help you ace your media interview

Posted by jaques montegolifier on June 14th, 2019

Businesses thrive by building a customer base and public relations. To spread the word about your products and services, you have to depend on tools like the media – print, television or radio so that you can expand your customer base. There are also times when business executives are invited directly by media houses to appear for interviews. But for someone who isn’t exactly a master of words, this situation can be rather harrowing. As such, business owners should ensure that their executives receive adequate media interview training. Here are some tips you learn from media training courses that can help you ace your media interview.

Understand why you are being interviewed: When you receive the interview call, ensure you ask the interviewer/reporter about his/her expectations from the interview. Ask questions, so that you know what to expect. You can even ask for a mock-up questionnaire, so that you can prepare and rehearse the answers before appearing for interviews. Take a cue from communication training for celebrities’ videos online to see how you should frame replies.

List out the key messages: In case the reporter provides vague replies regarding the type of questions you’ll be asked, you still need to have a plan of action in hand. This is as simple as listing out the key messages you hope to address in your media interview. Your media interview training will teach you that you should not have more than three key messages that you should know in-depth. Keep circling back to the key message points, while keeping your remarks relevant, positive and interesting.

Be prepared to go off-topic: Reporters are notoriously known for going “off-track”. They can ask questions that may not necessarily address the points you wish to highlight. They can also get personal sometimes, especially if one is a well-known public figure. Moreover, you could be asked questions related to your industry and not just the business you are in, to increase the value of their story. As an interviewee, you need to be prepared for this.

Think of strong quotes: Reporters need to edit out interviews to fit their time slot – in case of television interviews. The same is also true of print interviews which need to be fitted in a given space. Remember that reporters appreciate a good sound-byte. Prepare a few solid quotes to make your interview interesting and memorable, thus elevating a good story to a great one. A strong quote will add to your credibility while also adding interest and emotion to your interview. You can make your interview even more interesting by using the right action words or imaginative metaphors. This tip is especially emphasised in communication training for celebrities.

Stay away from jargons and incomprehensible phrases: Every business has certain terms that are relevant and important to them; those that are widely used in their own work world. However, the average person listening to your interview may not necessarily understand these terms or even be aware of them. As such, it is better to avoid using these words so that you don’t have to waste time explaining them; you should rather focus on your key messages. Your media interview training teaches you that you should aim to speak in such a way that the information you provide is both, understandable and accessible.