Tips for Being Interviewed by the Media

Sending out an effective press release or media advisory will lead to the next step — an interview with the press. Whether you are talking to a newspaper reporter or being interviewed in front of the camera, here are some tips to help you or your spokesperson prepare to be a great advocate for your neighboring efforts.

• Know what you want to communicate, and don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. Important ideas often need to be repeated several times.
• Live by your message points, the key points you feel are most important to communicate to the media and your audience. To develop short message points, carefully consider the goals of your project and the neighboring concepts you are using to achieve your goals.
• Short answers are better than long ones. Each message should be no longer than 10 to 15 words. Stop talking when you’re done making your point.
• This is not a confrontational interview. Smile.
• Don't overlap the interviewer's question. Begin your answer when he or she is finished.
• Speak in complete sentences, trying to repeat back the main part of the reporter's question. Example: "How is your organization improving families' lives in your town?" Answer: "Our organization is improving families' lives by offering free tutoring to help children succeed in school." Your quote will be more likely to be used by the media if it contains a complete thought.
• Avoid jargon and acronyms. Speak as simply as possible.
• Relax by taking a few deep breaths before the interview, and remember to breathe throughout. Keep your hands free, open, and animated. Gesture as you normally would.
• Plan what you’d like to say if asked, “is there anything else that you’d like to say?” You should recap your three main message points as a response.
• Always assume the camera and microphone are on. When doing TV interviews, ask which camera is on you and be sure to face towards it. And remember, where reporters are concerned, there is no such thing as “off the record.”
• Resist the urge to lean into the microphone. They are very powerful and can pick up every word you say.
• Television is an intimate medium. Speak in personal, anecdotal terms. Use analogies to illustrate your point. Don’t be afraid to tell “your story.”
• Body language is important for television. Practice by talking into a mirror and by having a coworker or friend ask you questions you think journalists would ask. People will remember how they felt about you more than they will remember what you said; so,
• it's important to be relaxed and sincere.
• Mention the Points of Light Foundation's Web site at www.PointsofLight.org as a way for people to obtain more information on neighboring.

Don’t forget! Sharing neighboring stories is best done when ALL partners are involved and engaged. Invite a neighborhood volunteer or community partner to participate whenever possible.

A pitch letter is another way to alert the media about your event or to provide idea for a compelling story.