This presentation is designed to:
- State key issues relevant to interacting with the media in their role as psychologists
- Consider multiple factors that play a role in a successful media engagement
2. I have no financial relationships to disclose...but I’m
working on it!
3. EDUCATIONAL
OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to
State key issues relevant to interacting with the media in
their role as psychologists
Consider multiple factors that play a role in a successful
media engagement
4. PSYCHOLOGIST & THE
MEDIA
What are your impressions of psychologists in the media?
Who currently represents the field of psychology and mental
health?
6. DR. DURVASULA ON
PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE MEDIA
Psychology poorly represented on tv
Psychologists can improve the public perception of the field
Unlicensed, untrained, or undertrained individuals
providing mental health commentary
Working with the media requires an ability to make
research and psychological principles simple and digestible
Media prefers direct correlations to circumspect approach
8. HOW TO WORK WITH
THE MEDIA
Interview format as an “expert”
Health and medical field are particularly prone to reporter
requests based on public interest
Multiple forms of media to consider
Print
Radio
Television
9. COMMUNICATING
WITH THE MASSES
Interfering factors:
General public is not science literate
Public has short retention abilities
Science can be intimidating
Public belief in “psychic phenomena”
Multiple scientific disciplines competing for same audience
Canadian Psychological Association - Working with the Media: A Guide for Psychologist
10. COMMUNICATION
WITH THE MASSES
Facilitating factors:
Interesting
Relevant
Simplified, user-friendly, and easily understood
Memorable
People want to know about psychology!
Canadian Psychological Association - Working with the Media: A Guide for Psychologist
11. TO INTERVIEW OR
NOT TO INTERVIEW?
If you are going to participate in an interview, consider these
questions:
What do you want to accomplish with this interview?
What you want to say about this subject?
What do you have to gain by giving the interview?
Will there be more opportunities to interview in the future?
American Psychological Association: How to Work With the Media (www.apa.org)
12. TO INTERVIEW OR
NOT TO INTERVIEW?
Consider declining an interview if it:
Would compromise you
Is not in your area of expertise
Use caution when considering:
Panel discussions
14. INTERVIEW
PREPARATION
Who will be attending?
Who will be participating?
Obtain contact information of interviewer
Would a background fact sheet be helpful?
Avoid “off the record” comments
15. INTERVIEW
What’s in a title?
“As a psychologist...”
Be succinct and keep your message straight forward and
limited
Stick to your points
Follow the interviewer
Enjoy the experience
16. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
FOR RADIO
Audience is relying on content and tone
Turn off your radio
Sit up right for good voice control
Keep notes on small cards
Avoid using “uh” sounds
18. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
FOR TELEVISION
Television
Highest academic degree w/your name
Use natural face and hand gestures
Maintain good eye contact with interviewer
Stay physically alert, even when you are not talking
Assume the microphone is always live
21. ETHICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Division 46: Society for Media Psychology and Technology
Bound by ethical principles and standards
Special considerations
Confidentiality
Staying within your area of expertise
Commenting on specific cases
22. POST INTERVIEW
When will the show be aired/broadcasted?
Request a copy of your printed story
Send a thank you note
Contact interviewer if your views are misrepresented
23. MISQUOTED
Most of the time, students hear what they didn’t get
right, says Stacie Otey-Scott, PsyD, a primary care
psychologist and associate professor in family and
community medicine and in psychiatry and
behavioral sciences.
The SPs can describe how they felt physically and
emotionally when the student did something. If he or
she was nervous, did it make the patient nervous?
And they can critique without making the student
feel stupid. It produces students who don’t feel as
intimidated in actual encounters.
“There really is no other way to get at that
information unless you have a live person who is
willing to share themselves, their most intimate
side,”
Dr. Otey-Scott says.
24. RESOURCES
American Psychological Association
Frequently Asked Questions About Working with the
Media: http://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/media/
faq.aspx
Tips for Working with the Media:http://www.apa.org/
pubs/authors/media/tips.aspx
Checklist for Media Interview Preparation: http://
www.apa.org/pubs/authors/media/checklist.aspx
25. QUESTIONS??
The media can be a very valuable resource to the field of
psychology...we must value it and treat it with respect.
Notes for this presentation and the presentation on Working
With African-American Families can be found at:
www.calldoctorsos.com
They will both be available within 1 business day of this
presentation.