RRight Now Communications
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oo often, company spokespersons or organizational interview request, but it’s your time. Make sure you get leaders are caught off guard when the media asks them your message out. to answer “a few questions.” But media interviews 4. Know when to say no. don’t have to be frightening, nerve-wracking, or stressful if you You can decline a media interview. If you aren’t the practice regularly or invest in media appropriate person to speak on the interview training to develop essential topic, saying yes to an interview will communication muscles. Here are some get you and your company nowhere. tools that can help: Does participating in an interview align Media interviews don’t 1. Decide if you want to do the with your communications strategy? If interview. you can’t properly prepare, you have have to be stressful if Think about your level of permission to decline. Never wing it! you invest in training comfort with the angle of the These are essential tools that to develop essential story and the format. Ask about need to be sharpened before you communication muscles. the topic, ask for specifics, ask say yes to an interview. RRight Now how long the interview will be, Communications has decades of and whether it’s live or taped. experience to help you and your team Ask where the story will be tell your own story. Investing in media published — online, the web, on interview training is an undeniable social media, broadcast, and/or print. Remember that return on investment that can save your company money, everything you say will live on forever on many different prevent lousy publicity, and avoid a ruined reputation. Don’t platforms. you think you should consider investing in the tools to help 2. Stay on message. you elevate your message, story, and brand RRight Now? Let’s face it: Most people don’t trust reporters. The common fear is that a reporter will ask a “Gotcha” question and you’ll look shaken, foolish, or off guard. The easiest solution is to stay on message, no matter what the reporter asks. Preparing for media interviews takes discipline. You can practice by thinking about tough questions you don’t want to answer in advance; preparing and practicing brief, solid responses; practicing Regina Carswell Russo pivoting to the foundational message you want your audience to hear; and saying that over and over and over. CEO/Chief Strategist 3. Know what you want to say. What do you want your audience, clients, customers, RRight Now Communications or the public to know? Practice forming answers to P.O. Box 8696 any potential question that will give you space to relay Cincinnati, Ohio 45208 your desired message. A professional tip: It may be their
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