I spent 12 years in the network and local television news trenches, so I know firsthand the top three mistakes people make when they’re being interviewed.
1. The person talks non-stop. In the newsroom, we referred to it as the “diarrhea of the mouth” interview. The interviewee never comes up for air. They just go on and on and on. And most of what he’s saying isn’t relevant. As a result, the interviewer will have to work really hard to find a soundbite. These are the interviews that most often wind up on the proverbial “cutting room floor.”
2. The person doesn’t speak in complete thoughts/ soundbites. Example: What’s your favorite color? Most people will just say, “Blue.” People who have gone through an executive media training program will give a better response: “My favorite color is blue.” That’s a complete soundbite that can stand on its own without any further explanation or set-up from the interviewee.
3. The person doesn’t listen to/ doesn’t understand the interviewer’s question. Before you respond, listen carefully to make sure you understand the question. If you don’t understand it, ask for clarification THEN answer the question.
If you have made any of these top three media interview mistakes in the past, you might want to consider contacting someone who specializes in executive media training. They can help you improve your messaging and your on-camera performance.
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