When Talking to the Media, Being Unprepared Can Be Very Costly
14 point plan for success from NY-Based media training firm.
Great Neck, NY (PRWEB) October 19, 2005 -- Getting a free interview in a magazine, a newspaper, on radio or on TV is often considered a great way to promote a business, enhance a political aspiration, or support a cause. But, sometimes the expectation can fall far short of the result, and your free exposure may cost a lot more than you ever imagined.
Blitz Magazine, a trade magazine that deals with "The Business of Media Communications," recently published an article entitled "Nailing Your Next Media Interview," an interview with Arthur Germain, VP of Better Business Presentations. (Free download at www.betterbusinesspresentations.com). In the article, Mr. Germain explains 14 points that will help "tell the reporter your story in your own words, so that you can be quoted without sounding unprepared."
A media interview that goes bad can have awful results, especially if you're convinced that a reporter's job is simply to write down or report whatever you tell them, or if you think you're having a conversation only to discover you've said too much.
"One of the first items we address is that a reporter may sometimes interpret everything you say or don't say, and that can have an impact on the story," commented Mr. Germain. "Be prepared to make your points accordingly and don't try to influence the reporter by engaging them in general conversation."
Media coverage can be the most powerful form of persuasion, and often credibility and believability rests with what the viewer reads, hears or sees. Communication isn't what you say. It's what the audience "digests" as they are taking it in.
With this in mind, Point 14 simply says "Stop Talking" and adds: "Unless you're trying to guide a reporter to a particular question, don't feel the need to fill in dead air during an interview. Let the reporter think of and ask follow up questions. When you're finished answering a question, stop talking."
While several points in the article are geared to media coverage of business, having good media interviewing skills in general is essential to a positive outcome.
Better Business Presentations is a division of Marcomm Group, Inc., a full service integrated marketing agency. For further information and the free, no-obligation download, visit www.betterbusinesspresentations.com or call Marcomm Group at
516-829-0404.
Blitz Magazine is online at www.blitzmagazine.com
Editorial Contact:
Alan Lewis
Marcomm Group
(516) 829-0404
http://www.betterbusinesspresentations.com
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