Testing Testing: Taking a Media Call
A question that has come up quite a bit lately is: The media called me for an interview, now what?
While it’s not uncommon for the media to reach out directly to a person they want to interview, it’s always best to defer those calls to your public relations or communications leader if you have one.
But, if you don’t have a public relations person like me to buffer those calls, there are some simple strategies to ensure the reporter gets what they need and you are prepared for the interview.
Here are some basic tips to handle the unexpected media call:
Pause: Ask for a minute to get a pen and paper to write down the information.
Be polite: It can be unnerving to get a surprise call from the media, but thank them for reaching out, then move on to the nuts and bolts of the request.
Ask them to repeat their name and media outlet: It’s always good to confirm this information.
Topic: Ask the reporter to clarify what they want to discuss.
Timeline: Ask them what their deadline is for the interview.
Format: If it’s a TV or radio interview, ask if it is recorded or live, and what platform, such as Zoom or in-person, will be utilized. Tip: A reporter will generally record your interview even if it’s for a print publication.
Who: Ask them who else they may interview for the article or radio or TV segment.
Detail: Ask them if there is some information they need prior to the interview -- sending back-up detail ahead of time can help the reporter ask really great questions.
Schedule: Set a time for the interview, giving yourself enough time to gather the information needed for the conversation while meeting the reporter’s deadline.
Remember: It’s OK to not take questions at the time of the initial call. In fact, I would encourage everyone to set a time to call the reporter back to ensure time for preparation and to gather information for the interview.
Once the interview time and topic are set, it’s time to prepare. To help you, I put together some helpful tips for nailing the interview, which you can read here.
I also want to remind everyone that if you post something to your social media accounts that is getting attention, it is open for discussion with the reporter. Be prepared to be asked about it. If you need support with your social media use and strategy, please reach out to a public relations professional for a consultation and to create a plan to stay on message and avoid being sidetracked by a social media dust-up.
This is just a quick rundown of tips to manage a media call effectively and with ease. As always, it is recommended that if you are in the midst of a communications crisis or facing a slew of interviews as part of a company initiative or a run for elected office that you hire a public relations professional to handle the media calls, schedule interviews and prepare you and others on your team to talk to the media.
If you need support with your media and public relations efforts, reach out to Cymbal Public Relations at hello@cymbalpr.com. We’d be happy to help secure media opportunities, prepare you for upcoming media interviews and work alongside you and your team to capitalize on your media exposure.
