5 Media Interview Mistakes to Avoid
Evan Nierman
Founder & CEO, Red Banyan PR | Author of Top-Rated Newsletter on Communications Best Practices
You might be thinking that you are a great public speaker and won’t have any problem giving a media interview to a TV talk show host or reporter. Live TV interviews, however, are very different from public speeches, adding their own challenges and pitfalls that can derail even the most experienced spokespeople.
To maximize your media opportunity and come across well during your next appearance avoid these 5 common media interview mistakes:
1. Giving long answers.
Most TV and radio interviews are brief, lasting no more than a few minutes. Avoid going into too much detail and history about your company, new product or initiative. Keep your answers concise and to the point. Remember, interviews are supposed to be dialogs rather than monologues.
2. Using industry jargon or marketing language.
Avoid using industry-specific terms that might not be familiar to a broader audience. When answering questions, don’t speak in pure marketing sound bites. Both your interviewer and the audience are expecting to hear your personal insights or interesting backstory, rather than a well-worn sales pitch.
3. Looking at the camera instead of the interviewer.
The bright lights and the hustle and bustle of TV studios can be distracting and make you forget where to look once the cameras start rolling. Remember to always focus your eyes and attention on the interviewer, and not on the cameras around you.
4. Not preparing for uncomfortable questions.
Even if you are expecting a friendly conversation, you should never leave yourself unprepared to answer negative or uncomfortable questions that could come your way. When asked such a question, try not to look displeased or irritated with the reporter. Answer them in a natural, conversational manner, smoothly transitioning to another topic.
5. Answering a question if you don’t know the answer.
Finally, you should never try to answer questions whose answers you don’t know. Taken out of context, your statements may be later interpreted as incompetent, false, or even worse - as purposefully misleading.
If you need help preparing for your next media interview, call Red Banyan today for professional, in-depth training.