Sunday, August 18, 2013

General Techniques for Media Interviews



Before the interview:
• Know your purpose. Prepare two or three essential points that you want to get across during the
interview.
• Support your points with facts or anecdotes from your experience.
• There is no substitute for preparation. Study your subject and ask your friends, family, and colleagues
to conduct mock interviews as practice.
• Consider your interview an "enlarged conversation" and speak as naturally as you would to another
person.

During the Interview:

• Before you begin to speak, smile at the interviewer to establish a rapport.
• Use vocal variety. Let your voice and your delivery reflect the full spectrum of emotions and points of
emphasis.
• Use gestures that complement the expression of your ideas. Avoid distracting, meaningless
movements.
• Maintain eye contact throughout the interview and keep and "open," friendly face.
• Communicate total enthusiasm and involvement in your subject.

Getting Your Point Across:

• Be assertive - in a pleasant way - so that the conversation centers on subjects you want to talk about.
One way to do this is to respond to a narrow question with a very broad answer that encompasses the
facts or opinions you need to get across.
• Listen carefully to the question. If you consider it difficult, pause before you answer to give yourself time
to formulate a response. If you don't understand a question, ask that it be repeated.
• Be careful not to repeat an interviewer's words, unless they reinforce what you wish to say. If an
interviewer poses false premises in asking a question, correct him/her firmly but politely.
• Don't feel obligated to accept unfamiliar facts or figures.
• Use your time to set the record straight or present facts. You might say, "This is a common
misperception. Here's why..."
• Deflect questions you do not wish to answer by introducing something else of interest. In this way, you
may redirect the interview to the subject you wish to convey.
• Don't try to answer hypothetical questions; they tend to obscure your true position. Turn the tables by
clearly stating your general position and then offering your own example.
• Use short words and simple, declarative sentences. Avoid scientific terminology. Be descriptive, using

images that the listener can picture

www.takeoneschool.com

No comments:

Post a Comment