A TV interview is a great opportunity to potentially reach a large amount of people all at once to communicate your message and position yourself as an expert. The visual nature of TV means it’s also a very engaging form of communication.
If you have secured a TV interview it’s then important to prepare yourself as much as possible to make the most of this opportunity.
Being unprepared may lead to you not communicating your key messages successfully, not creating a good impression and in a worst case scenario, making an on air gaffe, which could be uploaded to YouTube and shared virally.
The Art of the Great Media Interview has provided some useful tips to help you prepare for a TV interview.
Research
When preparing for a media interview it’s a great idea to research the journalist and your topic of discussion. This will help you to understand how the journalist may conduct the interview, what they are interested in and what they are looking for. By researching the topic of discussion you can make sure you are prepared to answer the journalist’s questions.
Where to look
When you are being interviewed for TV don’t stare directly into the camera or continuously shift your gaze between the journalist and the camera. This can make the viewers feel uncomfortable and they may not pay attention to your message.
It’s best to focus on the journalist and pretend the camera is not in the room. If there is only one journalist then maintain eye contact with them during the interview.
If there is a panel of journalists then it’s best to follow the dialogue with your eyes. This means you should maintain eye contact with whoever is speaking.
Location
Most TV interviews will usually take place in the program’s studio. However, if the journalist requests for the interview to take place on location it’s important to choose an appropriate spot.
When choosing a location you need to consider what backdrop and visuals are the best to tell your story. For example, if you are talking about driver safety then maybe you could conduct the interview beside a busy highway. Usually the journalists will have a location in mind; however you can suggest other options.
What to wear
During a TV interview it’s important to wear appropriate clothing to send the right message to the audience. For example, if you are talking about poverty and charity donations don’t wear expensive jewellery, which may cause the audience to question your motives.
It’s best to dress professionally and wear dark, solid clothes. Clothing with patterns on it can often be distracting to the audience.
Practice
Before a TV interview it’s a great idea to consider some of the questions you may be asked and to practice your responses. You can also practice where to look during a media interview and how to control your hand gestures or body language.
By practicing as many times as possible it can help you to feel more confident and prepared during a TV interview. You can even enlist the help of a professional media trainer to prepare you for the interview.
Preparation and practice are the keys to a successful TV interview and always remember this is an opportunity for you to get a message to your target audience via the media.
Read the full article here.
Sydney Public Relations Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more great tips visit our website www.cpcommunications.com.au.
