A few entrepreneurs might dismiss media training, believing that they are great public speakers. And that may be the case. But speaking with reporters requires a much different approach and style than holding a conversation with your friends. Your friends will be more generous with your time, allowing you to meander from thought-to-thought.
It doesn’t work like that with the media. You need to be tight on messaging. If you veer from the story line, many reporters will tune out. It’s even more paramount to stick to the script when speaking on live TV.
During my time as a producer for NBC and CBS, I had to listen and log many interviews that went off track. The subject veered to a different topic, taking double the amount of time as I listened to it in person and on tape. As I became more experienced, I brought the interview subject back to the story. But in today’s world of journalism – where reporters are younger and younger – you might not get the chance to get guidance from the producer.
I wrote a story for Forbes last year, outlining the 5 biggest mistakes I saw leaders make during media interviews. You can read that story here, but if you’re short on time, here’s an outline of the tips.
Continue reading “Media Training – Common Mistakes with Reporters”
