As a publicist, I regularly help train client spokespeople on how to conduct TV interviews. Some of our national clients need to use their company’s local representatives for smaller market interviews, and many of these people have never been on TV before. It’s not as easy as the professionals make it look. So here is a little course on how to give a great live TV interview:
1. No matter if your interview is 30 seconds or 30 minutes, have three main points that you want to get across to the audience. That may be the name of your company or new product, a special event that is going on, or your contact information for viewers. Remember when mentioning a phone number or website, say it slowly and repeat it twice.
2. When dressing for TV, solid colors are your friend. Patterns and stripes can look too busy. You want viewers to pay attention to what you are saying, not the crazy shirt you are wearing. Wear clothes that are neat and comfortable, and follow your company’s dress code.
3. Be conversational. Don’t sound like you’ve memorized a handful of index cards right before hitting the stage. At the same time, speak in terms that the general audience will understand. Your colleagues back at the lab may understand all your technical jargon, but the majority of your viewers will not.
4. To help avoid those nervous sweaty palms or dry mouth, chat with the reporter before going on air. This will help in a couple ways. First, it will get you to focus on the person talking to you, not the cameras and lights behind them. Talking with the reporter will also help you get a sense of their conversation style, and give you an opportunity to ask what types of questions they will be asking you.
Following these tips will help you have a great TV interview. And above all, remember to have fun!
