Media Tips
If you've landed an interview with a journalist, congratulations! Here are some of Humanities Communications' tried and true tips:Timeliness makes the difference. If you are working with SOH Communications to pitch your expertise or book publication to a vetted journalist, please respond as soon as possible! Journalists are often working under deadline and they move on quickly. Journalists expect academics to respond almost instantaneously; they can find other sources more quickly than we can find other opportunities. For your actual interview, whether in person or over the phone, be on time.
Think about the format. Camera, radio and print interviews are all going to require different strengths and preparation.
Give context. Never assume knowledge or perspective. Many reporters cover a variety of topics and industries and appreciate a source who gives them information they didn’t have. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can say to a reporter is, “… let me back up and give you some context.”
Speak to a general public. Use simple language when talking to reporters. They must use your words in the context of an article written in 10th-grade English. Make it easy for them to use your quotes.
Know your key messages. A reporter will not clean up your quotes. If you said it; it's fair game. So, rehearse your key messages in advance. They should be short and sweet sound bites, bereft of academic jargon. Annabel can help you develop these. It is a good practice to flag your key messages with "I think the key take-away is..." or "The most important thing to remember is...".
Use the question in your answer. Because both reporters and the public want to pull quotes from an interview, incorporate the question into your answer so that it's a full sentence and not a fragment. For example, if you are asked "Why do you think studying the humanities is important?" You don't want to start answering "Because the humanities...". Instead, answer, "Studying the humanities is important because...".
Nothing is off the record. It's a false Hollywood trope that you can say "off the record" and a reporter will honor it. Anything you say is fair game to be included in a story. If there is a microphone, tape recorder or camera, just assume it's on the entire time and that anything you say for the duration of your time with a reporter is fair game.
Bridge to a better discussion. You do not need to answer every question a reporter asks. It’s important not to think of an interview as simply a question-and-answer session. You can answer a question and bridge to a more important point the reporter may have missed.
On air? Whether for a podcast or radio show, focus on enunciation and keep in mind that listeners can't see your facial expressions or gestures, so your cadence should help carry the tone of your message. Remember to slow down, pause, breathe and inject energy into your voice.
In front of the camera? Wear warm, solid colors. Steer clear of patterns, stripes, herringbone and small intricate designs as they can appear to strobe on screen.
To see UCI's full list of media tips, click here.