Media Training Tips

By Annie Jennings - Mar 04 , 2008

Never do a teleconference or a show using a cell phone or a headset—both are unreliable! Always turn off your call waiting. Contact your local phone company for instructions on how to do this for an individual call. You can turn it back on again immediately after your interview.Hosts will rarely have read your book and will mostly stick to the questions they are provided, so don’t focus your energy on what the questions will be. Focus on giving your best answer to the questions you have provided in your press release.

If you don’t understand a question asked, ask for clarification. Don’t assume you know what they are asking.

Prepare your talking points. Know the five key message points you would like to discuss in the interview. Write them down on index cards so you can prompt yourself.

You are the expert! Be confident, straightforward, and prepared. Media training is a major plus, as it gives you the opportunity to practice your materials and receive top quality, professional feedback.

Compliment the host when a good question is asked, “That’s an excellent question” or “I’m glad you asked that question.” It also helps to draw in your audience.

Use the interviewer’s name in conversation. It creates a more intimate conversation that the audience feels privy to. And it makes the interviewer feel good, too!

Don’t judge an interview by its length. Be prepared for ANY opportunity, they are all potential goldmines.

Sell yourself, not your book or product. If the audience likes you, they WILL buy what you’re selling.

Keep an eye on the clock. If your interview is for 10 minutes, start your wrap up at minute 8, such as mentioning where they can buy your book, your website, and any other information you would like them to have.

Interview time goes very fast. Before you know it, the interview is over. Media training is a major plus and will give you a tremendous advantage, as you can learn the techniques and strategies to giving a great interview as well as promoting your interests during the interview. If you say, “It’s in my book,” the interviewer will cut you short—very quickly.
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Annie Jennings of the National PR firm, Annie Jennings PR, promotes authors & experts to the most prestigious media in America. A free CD, “The Making Of A Million Dollar Expert,” is available.