Tag Archives: interview
Sunday, June 10th, 2012
Media Training: The Cheat Sheet of Questions
It’s been nearly 12 years since I last picked up a microphone to ask a question for a news story, but I still remember the first thing my subjects always asked me when I arrived:
“What are you going to ask me?”
The stories always change, the interview topics are always different, and the people involved likely shift from day to day. But the reporters’ questions will always be the same. Well, they’ll always have the same theme. Here’s a little Media 101 for you first timers fielding calls from reporters wondering how to prepare.
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
It’s Halftime…Are You Ready?
How many times have you started a presentation or interview and thought, “gosh, I wish I had a better start?” Have you started down a line of ideas and then lost your train of thought mid-sentence and hoped for the hail Mary idea to get you back on track? If so, you’re not alone!
As an enormous sports fan and former physical athlete who still feels she has some sports psychology still left in her, I found myself thoroughly inspired by the message in the Chrysler Super Bowl ad narrated by Clint Eastwood. The concept that halftime can be a game changer, and if you persevere you can get through any tough time was a powerful message of both strength and hope. The same holds true whether you’re out on the gridiron, making your winning putt on the golf course, shooting the buzzer beater basket, or standing in front of an audience hoping to sway, motivate, inspire or move them to follow your lead.
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Campaign Crisis Communications
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
Winning Webinars
Planes, trains and automobiles, we’re all getting tired of traveling for every meeting and workshop, so webinars and teleconferences are becoming more common. I, myself lead a webinar this afternoon for the Association of Women in Communications on media interview preparation. We focused specifically, on ambush, walk and talk, and impromptu interviews. You know the kind of interviews where someone stops you on the street, or throws a camera in your face just after you walk off stage from making a speech, or leave a hearing room when testifying in front of lawmakers. Whatever the scenario, if you’re a newsmaker, there’s no such thing as an ambush or impromptu interview. Be ready at all times.
Sunday, July 24th, 2011
Less is More: Non-verbal Communication
So as I’m sitting and catching up on Facebook posts from friends, I saw a comment about how horrified an HR director was when a candidate showed up for an interview and thought that lotioning her feet while waiting to be called back was a good idea. Say it with me…taking care of personal hygiene while waiting for an interview is a really bad idea!
Sunday, January 23rd, 2011
Mastering the Post Game Interview
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
Commentator Jabbed for “Con-text”
Horrified. That is the word used to describe the look on commentator Todd Woodbridge’s face during his on-court interview with tennis great, Kim Clijsters!
While there was no harm done, and Kim will likely continue to dominate the game without breaking too much of a sweat, and keep her smile and sense of humor, this is a great opportunity to remind everyone of some basic technology communication rules: