Top ten media tips

We have advised several individuals recently in advance of media interviews, so thought it might be useful to share some top tips:

1.Every discussion with a journalist is an opportunity to share some key facts and information about you and your organisation.

2.Be clear from the outset about your key messages and ensure you convey these by the end of the interview.

3.The normal rules of conversation don‘t apply, so although it may feel like a friendly chat - it is not!

4.To be on the safe side, just assume that you are never off the record, so everything you say can be used by the journalist, even when you are off guard!

5.Believe it or not, journalists are human, so it is important to build successful relationships. Treating them with respect and with a friendly manner will go a long way.

6.Journalists are inundated with potential spokespeople, so do everything you can to ensure you make their life as easy as possible if you want them to quote you rather than your comeptitors.

7.You are the expert on you and your business, so you already have a lot of information at your fingertips.

8.Before any interview, ensure you have prepared properly by reading any briefing materials and any recent material from the journalist.

9.Be aware of what is in the news that day as this could impact on the agenda for your interview.

10.Enjoy the opportunity!