Media interviews bring huge potential for any brand. Not only can they boost awareness but they’re a great opportunity for you to share your key messages and put a voice/face to your brand. As the interviewee, you become a representative and mouthpiece for your brand so it’s crucial to fully prepare yourself beforehand in order to show your business in the best light possible. Through our media relations services, the team at Orange guides our clients throughout the entire interview process so they can approach them feeling calm and confident. We share our top four fundamental tips below on how to prep if you’re soon to be sitting down with a journalist:
Before agreeing to go ahead with the interview, the most important thing to do is research the media outlet and journalist. Watch or read previous interviews to get an idea of the kind of topics the reporter touches upon. Do they have a strong bias towards particular issues? Do your brand values align with the publication’s values? Put simply, do you trust this media outlet? These are the kinds of questions you should be asking yourself to make an informed decision.
Remember, you do have a right to turn down an interview if you feel uncomfortable. If you’re happy to go ahead, this research will only help you to prepare for the interview as you will now know the type of questions asked as well as the format. If you’re unsure about anything, this is where a PR agency (like Orange!) can really help you work out what’s best for you and your brand.
To get an even better idea of the kind of questions the journalist is going to ask you, it’s worth requesting a set of standard sample questions prior to the interview. You can then use these to your advantage and come up with rough answers to ensure you’re prepared for whatever comes your way. Keep your draft responses brief and jot down a few bullet points. Writing a script may make you sound over-rehearsed. Instead, you want your replies to sound eloquent and natural.
It’s worth noting that some media outlets won’t provide sample questions beforehand. In this case, we recommend second-guessing what kind of questions may crop up and always be prepared for the odd surprise question. If you’re fully prepared and have fact-checked your responses, you should be able to answer these in a comfortable and confident manner.
Media interviews are a great way to reach out and capture your target audience. Therefore, it’s crucial that your messaging is relevant and relatable. Keep your key message in mind throughout the interview and try to steer the conversation to ensure it makes the cut. From your pre-interview research, you will already know the publication’s readership/audience so be sure to tailor your answers to the readers or listeners.
This insight will also inform your tone of voice and the type of language you use which will change depending on the readership/audience. As a PR agency, we help brands identify the key points they want to convey and formulate these into strong responses pre-interview.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that you have the power to change the narrative of the interview if you notice that things are taking an unexpected turn. Journalists often ask off-the-cuff and challenging questions to prompt newsworthy responses but you can adapt your answers to get the interview back on track.
After the interview, we sometimes recommend asking for the tape/sound bites or copy before it goes live or sent to print. Not all outlets will agree to this, but it’s worth asking so you can approve the interview and responses. Again, Orange PR can help with these negotiations so you don’t have to.
Need more in-depth interview advice? Get in touch with a member of the team to find out how we can support you.
*images from Duda*
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Orange PR and Marketing
The Nursery
Layer Marney Tower
Roundbush Road
Layer Marney
CO5 9US
Orange PR and Marketing
The Nursery
Layer Marney Tower
Roundbush Road
Layer Marney
CO5 9US
Orange PR and Marketing
The Nursery
Layer Marney Tower
Roundbush Road
Layer Marney
CO5 9US