This document provides tips for preparing for and conducting successful news media interviews. It advises interviewees to make it easy for reporters by having something concise to say. Key points include considering who is asking the questions and what they want, deciding whether to grant an interview on the record, off the record, or on background, and preparing main talking points and responses to likely questions. It also suggests thinking about visual aspects like appearance, posture, and background setting. The document offers techniques for answering questions concisely and redirecting to main messages during the interview.

1. Camera Ready:
Preparing for News Media Interviews
By Patrick Gibbons
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2. x
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News Reporting is Tough Work

3.  Make it easy for reporters
 Have something to say
 Say it effectively
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Keys to Successful Interviewing

4. Who’s asking?
What do they want?
Do I have something to say?
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Should I agree to an interview?

5. On the record
 Expect to be quoted
 Full name, title and affiliation
 Assume it; it is the general practice
On background
 When you don’t want to be quoted
 Good for explaining details, providing perspective
Off the record
 Used only in special cases for specific reasons
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Attribution Categories

6. Say it briefly
Say it simply
Say it with feeling
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So you’ve decided to grant an interview…

7. • Most likely questions
• Most complex questions
• Key points to be made
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Message Preparation

8. Prepare and rehearse talking points
• Tell them what it means
• Tell them why it’s important
• Tell them why it’s cool
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Message Preparation

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Preparing for the camera
Think about visual aspects
Appearance
Posture
Setting, background

10. Meet and greet
Explain any restrictions
Correct any misinformation
Shape the interview questions
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Take advantage of off-camera time

11. “What can you tell me about… ?”
“What’s the latest on…?”
“Can you bring us up to date on…?”
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Likely first questions

12. Bridging
 That may be true, but…
 Another thing to remember is…
Flagging
 The important thing to remember is…
 I think the key is point is…
Bundling
 There are three key issues (list them briefly)…
 The two things to keep in mind are…
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Interview techniques

13. “What we know is…”
“What I can tell you is…”
“The important thing to remember is…”
“I think a more accurate term is…”
“Right now, our focus is on…”
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Good starting points for tough questions

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Questions
Patrick Gibbons
gibbonscp3@gmail.com