Master News Media Interviews

I need to prepare you for the inevitable – knowing the best media training tips so you can give an awesome interview. Some day you will be interviewed by a reporter, a news anchor, a talk show host, a blogger, a host on a reality show or an endless list of possible interview situations.

The point being, wherever you will be quoted becomes fertile ground for someone to take your words and to have those words live forever in print, on the air, online and in communication vehicles not mentioned here or not yet invented.

You want to make sure you are ready for that moment.

Chances are you’ll know in advance you are going to be interviewed, because you witness something, someone values your opinion, or you are an expert in your field.

To make it easier for you, I encourage you to get ready for your interview.  Make a list of questions you would like to be asked by the media interviewer.

Imagine a locksmith is being interviewed.  Prior to that interview, he comes up with a list of suggested questions that he hands over to the media interviewer.

Make a News Media Interview Question List

First of the media training tips is to create a list of interview questions. Here’s what the locksmith’s question list for his news media interview might look like:

1. What are the ways that someone can break easily into our homes?
2. How can we best protect ourselves?
3. What are the trends in the city that are putting us in harm’s way and what can we do about it?

Think of the questions you’d like to be asked or anticipate being asked and feel free to give that to the media interviewer.

Three Key Media Training Tips for Your News Media Interviews

1. Keep your answers short
2. Be concise
3. Be ready to answer the traditional five W’s at any moment:  who, what, where, why and when

I remember this quote from my teen years:   “In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.”  So said famed artist and luminary Andy Warhol.  Get ready. Your time of fame, if it hasn’t happened yet, is almost guaranteed to happen again and again.  Please be ready.

And, always expect the unexpected.  You might be randomly selected to be interviewed by the roving reporter who wanders the streets looking for interviews and stories.

Today’s LindaIsm:  Make the news media interviewers’ job easier by providing the interviewer with a question list.  Now, Maybe, Finally we can each take the responsibility to be prepared to speak  the words which may live in infamy.

Linda Blackman, CSP, is one of only 578 people worldwide to hold the Certified Speaking Professional designation. Linda transforms people into the speaker they need and want to be in every speaking situation.   Linda is an award-winning broadcast journalist and author. Linda’s company, specializes in helping individuals and companies with sales, public speaking, how to handle the media and crisis communications.  Bring in Linda to speak at your events and contact her for coaching and consultation.  She can be reached at MoreInfo@LindaBlackman.com,