 This is part one in a three-part series on how to conduct a successful interview with the media.
Being interviewed by the media can be nerve-wracking, no matter how many times you’ve done it. However, interviews don’t have to be painful experiences; with the right amount of understanding and preparation, anyone can make it through an interview like a pro. The best way to ensure you start off on the right foot is to understand the media, so you better know what to expect. Before your interview, consider the following points:
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 Anyone who has spent time in public relations would agree: The industry is built around relationships. Whether it’s with clients, journalists, politicians, you name it-- forming connections is the bedrock of what PR is all about.
Although cell phones and email make it easier than ever to keep in contact with clients, it’s important to remember these strategies should be used to compliment relationship-building efforts, not as a substitute. Overly relying on email or texting also has its hazards. For example, consider the oft-cited fact from a 1970s study that only about 7 percent of communication is verbal; the rest is from body language and tone. When communicating solely through email, it can be easy for intended message to become misconstrued. Well-intentioned messages can come across as cold and impersonal. If your client seems distant, pick up the phone: Perhaps they have been reading your emails differently than you intended. Another hazard of email reliance is that a simple task could be stretched out for days. People get countless emails every day: Waiting for email approval on a time-sensitive assignment can cause you to miss deadlines. More often than not, picking up the phone or meeting in person to hash things out is faster and more efficient. Here at Mack Communications, we strongly believe in taking clients out for lunch or coffee. Taking time out of your day to meet with a client shows them that you think they are important. It’s also simply a good way to get to know someone as a person, and pick up on better ways to approach your work together. Remember: Clients, journalists, legislators are all people. Give them a ring! |
Photos from Meet the Media Guru, Joseph.Morris, BoldContent, MDGovpics, Grzegorz Łobiński, Mr Moss, North Charleston, ITU Pictures, wistechcolleges, .v1ctor Casale., www.audio-luci-store.it, katielips, editor64, NeighborLink Fort Wayne, AMagill, timsackton, MyFWCmedia, Matt J Newman, Mr.TinDC, Skley, mikecogh, othompsonski, wayne's eye view, Elvert Barnes, woodleywonderworks, North Charleston, MoBikeFed, flossyflotsam, North Charleston, NYCDOT, US Mission Geneva, jjandames, aalborgstift, BurnAway, A. Germain, North Charleston, NCDOTcommunications, IAEA Imagebank, The Chapman Cultural Center, hitsnooze, Wiertz Sébastien, charliekwalker, cliff1066™, TheeErin, woodleywonderworks, dane brian, Aramil Liadon, 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, Ty Nigh, freddthompson, Nadia Szopinska, west.m, stormwarning., Bright Meadow, Giorgio Montersino, Chris Erwin, Aplomb, jfingas, joce01_y, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, Kevin Walter, Andrew Feinberg, Yan Arief, kellypretzer, Korean Resource Center 민족학교, veDro - l'Italia al futuro, crdotx, US Mission Geneva, Joe Shlabotnik, esocialmediashop, Stephen Cummings, CarbonNYC, sidewalk flying, MoBikeFed, marksdk, Marco Raaphorst, Saleel Velankar, adactio, edkohler, World Economic Forum, USACE Europe District, stereogab, Florin Rosoga, MikeSchinkel
