Prepare for an interview

Print, radio, and television media often roam the show halls so be prepared for a quick interview. If you've done your pre-show prep, your sales pitch should be ready but here are a few tips to help with interviews in general:

  • Be prepared – what are the two or three key messages you would like to get across?
  • What facts or evidence support your key messages?
  • Try to speak in your normal, conversational tone.
  • Try to keep your answers concise and to the point. Think about conversations where someone has been 'rabbiting on' and avoid being that person!
  • Stick to your key messages and the questions the reporter asks you, there's no need to volunteer additional information.
  • If you don't know the answer to a question, it's okay to say so.
  • If it's a television interview, always direct your answers to the reporter and in general, ignore the camera.
  • Try to seem calm and confident even if you're a nervous wreck inside. The impression you leave is often more important than the information you get accross – especially with television.
  • Prepare answers to potententially sticky questions ahead of time and remeber to have facts to back up your claims.
  • If things are particularly bad, try to answer the question you wished they'd asked by using a segway phrase like: "The more important issue is..." or "A more interesting question is...".