Broadcast Without Borders

This morning we heard top tips from the BBC’s Matthew Amroliwala, presenter on BBC World, and Tessa McCann, News Editor at CNBC, on how dos and don’ts for PRs pitching to international media. Here are some pointers…

1.   A lot of stories are booked on the day, so you have to be alive to the news agenda and react accordingly. Most programmes have loads of airtime to fill, so producers will appreciate intelligent, targeted pitches.

2.   You need to make it easy for TV producers. Give them a decent top line, good pictures or filming opportunities and credible guests, and you’re nearly there.

3.   Understanding programmes you’re aiming to target is crucial. You need to know who their audience is and what kind of interviews they’re after.

4.   Companies and brands can be far too defensive when it comes to broadcast interviews. There’s nothing to be scared of, organisations just have to be prepared for difficult questions.

5.   Confrontational interviews are not always the default position. In general broadcasters aren’t out to ‘get’ people. You might have to face uncomfortable questions, but if you’re prepared you won’t get ambushed.