How to Prepare For a Media Interview

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Introduction: How to Prepare for Media Interviews with the Right Message and a Strong Start

This video explains how to prepare effectively for media interviews by understanding your audience, refining your opening message and rehearsing answers to both expected and difficult questions. You’ll learn why the first 30–60 seconds matter so much and how to shape your messaging so it lands cleanly with the right people.

What you’ll learn: Preparing for Media Interviews with Confidence

• Why you must tailor your message to the specific news outlet and audience
• How to make your message genuinely newsworthy
• Why the first 30–60 seconds of an interview are critical
• How to prepare clear, concise opening lines that frame your story
• How to handle both expected and uncomfortable questions
• Why practice helps you use your messaging confidently under pressure

Summary: Build Clarity, Relevance and Confidence Before You Go On Air

Successful media interviews begin long before the camera rolls. You need to know who you’re talking to, what that audience cares about and how your messages can be both relevant and newsworthy. You can’t speak to the whole world in one interview, so tailor your approach carefully. Much of the impact comes from the opening moments — a clean, clear summary of your business or idea that sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. Preparation also means anticipating likely questions, including the difficult ones, and practising until your answers feel natural. When you know what you want to say, how to say it and how to respond under pressure, your interviews become far more effective.

Mini FAQ: Preparing for a Strong Media Interview

Why do I need to tailor my message?
Different news outlets speak to different audiences. You need messages that feel relevant to them.

Why are the first 30–60 seconds so important?
They set the tone and determine whether your audience stay with you.

How should I handle difficult questions?
Prepare for them upfront. Know how to answer honestly while keeping your core message intact.

How much should I practise?
A lot. Repetition helps you respond confidently and smoothly under pressure.

Transcript (edited)

The best way to prepare for a news audience is to know both the audience and the outlet you’re speaking to. Make sure your messages are appropriate, compelling and have an element of news in them. You can’t speak to the entire world in one interview, so hone in on who you’re really addressing.

When we prepare people for media interviews, we often spend a significant amount of time shaping the first 30–60 seconds. What do you want to get across right at the start? What’s the cleanest way to present your business or idea? You can’t work on that too often — it’s a critical part of preparation.

If you’re preparing for a media interview, there are three steps. Decide what you want to say. Work out the questions you’re likely to be asked and how to answer them, including the difficult ones. And then practise — a lot — until you’re comfortable using your messages in response to any question. That’s what makes a successful media interview.

Suggested Links

• Prepare clear media messages for your audience
• Shape a strong opening for interviews
• Practise answering difficult media questions
• Build confidence for live and pre-recorded interviews

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