Judi Clements Training & Development

How To Perfect Your Performance on the Media

Maybe you think it will never happen to you.  You’ll never be asked to speak on camera.  You’ll never have to give a media interview.  You’ll never have to face a mob of prying reporters.  Don’t be too sure of yourself.  The media is ever-present, especially in this day of cell phone cameras and You-Tube.  Any pro-active business executive must be ready to face a swarm of reporters with polish and presence. 

So how can you prepare?  Start to think like a reporter.  Get a nose for news, not just bad news.  Consider what your company is doing that could garner positive recognition.  If you gain a positive relationship with reporters on an everyday basis, they will be easier to deal with when a crisis hits. 

Send out your news releases on a regular basis and volunteer to speak with the media on topics you have special expertise in.  When talking on radio and television, follow some of the tips below:

For Radio:
1.  Dress sharply; it will help you sound better.
2.  Use the minutes before the interview to stretch and warm up your voice.
3.  Be aware that the sound of your voice is your most important tool on the radio.
4.  Vary your pitch, tone, inflection, rate, and volume.
5.  If you are on a call in show, avoid becoming defensive. 
6.  It is okay to have notes, but don't read them word for word.
7.  Assume the microphone is always on.

For Television:
1.  Wear a conservative blue, gray, or other medium dark suit.
2.  Wear a shirt that is lighter than your suit; stay away from solid black or stark white.
3.  Use only muted patterns; bold ones bleed on the air.
4.  Sit on your suit jacket to prevent buckling.
5.  Don't wear distracting accessories. 
6.  Wear a natural colored make-up base and powder to prevent a shinny look.
7. Sit erect but not stiff.
8. Keep your gestures small but animated.
9. Vary your tone of voice, be conversational.
10. Be friendly and conversational.
11. Keep eye contact with your interviewer, not the camera.
12.  At the start of the show, be ready to nod and smile when you are introduced.
 
The Three Golden Rules of Microphones 
1.  There is no such thing as a dead mike.
2.  Dead mikes don't exist.
3.  Remember rules 1 and 2!