Media Training
Working with the media is all about trust.
Note: John Kerrison does not provide media training while contracted as a reporter. For more information see the disclosure page or contact John.
News does not come from a vacuum. News takes shape based on trust, relationships and common goals. Newsrooms should have good relationships with news makers but the definition of ‘good’ can be complex. Does your management team have a policy of honest engagement with the media? Does your team have a crisis communication plan? Training can be part of a bigger media policy or even part of a social media strategy.
Tips for being interviewed on camera
- Be sure to know whether the interview is live or pre-recorded. Many press conferences are broadcast live on news channels so it can be safe to presume an interview is live.
- Ask where your interviewer wants your eye -line. Do you look at them or the camera? In most cases, try to forget the camera is there.
- Know the scope of the interview. Be prepared with the information that the interviewer might want. Be sure to chat to the journalist before the interview if you get a chance. It’s good to know what they want from the exchange. A good journalist won’t give you the questions before the interview for a few reasons; they want your honest response to the questions, they want you to show that you have a grasp of the subject, and in many cases the reporter hasn’t formulated the questions.
- If you don’t know the answer, don’t fudge an answer. If you don’t know the answer to a question, be up front and tell the reporter that you will get that information to them as soon as possible. If the information is not available, be ready to explain why.
