Media Interview Tips

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April 14, 2009
Public Relations Basics: Mastering the Television Interview Process

During my first television interview, the producer had one piece of advice for me: Don’t use profanity. During my second television interview, the producer had another piece of advice for me: Be controversial. Public relations consultants should take both of pieces of advice to heart. But there’s a lot more to an effective television interview. (Read more…)
April 10, 2009
Perfecting Your PR Pitch

We see experts quoted in newspapers and magazines every day; journalists rely on third-party sources to offer unbiased opinions or to help sort through facts. The most inexperienced journalist can follow a formula and write a story about, say, computer viruses. However, without an expert to validate the subject, the story will ring hollow. Public relations consultants can help position clients as experts through an “expert pitch.” All it takes is a simple email. (Read more…)
April 7, 2009
Preparing for a Television Interview

Recently I appeared live on national television. (Well, it was actually cable, but that’s national now.) Using my experience as an example, this installment of PR Fuel discusses the pros and cons of television-based public relations. Hopefully you’ll be able to take away some tips about how to get your public relations message on the air, how to prepare for that first television interview, and how to make the most of it once you’re in front of the camera. (Read more…)
March 18, 2009
Public Relations in the Age of the Sound Bite

Journalists love sound bites. We ask questions explicitly aimed at eliciting snappy, one-sentence comments. We’ve all seen television interviews or press briefings boiled down to a 15-second sound bite. Newspaper and magazine articles tend to have at least one definitive quote you can imagine a speechwriter whispering into a reporter’s ear. (Read more…)
March 10, 2009
More Media Interview Tips for Public Relations Pros

Recently I appeared on the CNBC show Kudlow and Cramer. I’d like to use that on-camera experience to offer up a little advice for any public relations pros who suddenly find themselves (or their clients) booked for any sort of televised media interview. It’s not as scary as you may have thought. (Read more…)
February 24, 2009
Public Relations Don’ts: Blacklisting Is Bad for Business

Blacklisting journalists who write negative stories about your company is tempting, but all it accomplishes is building conflict between your company and the media. One main goal of public relations is to build bridges, not burn them. (Read more…)
February 13, 2009
Not Every Media Interview is a Good Public Relations Opportunity

Imagine that you are a horse breeder. You agree to do an interview for a live television show. Once the interview starts, the anchor begins asking you questions about dogs and dog breeding. You can answer the questions in general terms, but you don’t want to try to offer advice or insight on a topic that you’re not entirely familiar with. (Read more…)
February 6, 2009
How to Avoid the TV Talk Show Bait

In the world of modern TV talk shows, civility is a forgotten art. The term “talk show” is probably not even apt; these shows are basically televised confrontations. It’s odd how many talk show guests still expect to be treated with a certain sense of decorum. That’s why PR firms should be wary about booking clients for talk show appearances; seated in front of a combative host, what you thought would be an opportunity for easy publicity can quickly turn into a public relations nightmare. (Read more…)
Be Careful What You Say or That Media Interview Could Backfire

I’m one of those strange people who doesn’t have cable or satellite television. One of the nice things about the radio I have is that I’m able to listen to a simulcast of financial news network CNBC, and an added benefit of having no picture is that I get to really concentrate on what’s being said by the interviewees. (Read more…)
January 29, 2009
When Media Interviews Attack

A PR Fuel reader writes: “How should a public relations department handle requests for competing media interviews? I had a very newsworthy author earlier this year. I was fortunate that several TV news shows wanted to interview him. But they all wanted to go first.” (Read more…)

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