Radio and TV interviews

Tips about getting an interview on the radio or TV, and what to say once you’re there.

Local radio stations are always looking for interesting local news, and it is relatively easy to get on the radio.

You can advertise events, talk about your organisation’s work, ask for volunteers or get coverage of an event you are putting on.

It can be harder to attract the attention of TV stations, but if you succeed you will reach a far wider audience. You are most likely to get coverage via the local news if you are doing or saying something that is considered to be very newsworthy and topical.

How to Secure an Interview

If you are interested in doing an interview, email a news release to your local radio or TV station, giving details of the event or issue you want to talk about.

Then follow up your email with a phone call to the News desk – be prepared to summarise the news release clearly and concisely, and if they want you to re-send the information, check what email address you should send it to.

Preparing for the Interview

Here are some tips which will help you to give a good interview:

• Think about the main points you want to make in advance. Note down the 2 or 3 things you think are the most important to get across and concentrate on these. You won’t be able to fit in everything you want to say.
• Don’t have lots of notes, as you will just get confused shuffling through them. If you want to have something written down, use index cards to note down a few central facts and your main points.
• Practice with a friend before the interview and ask them to be at the interview with you if possible.
• Listen to radio interviews and think about what works and what doesn’t. If you know who is going to interview you, try and listen to their program and get a feel for their style.
• Radio interviews are very short, usually only around 2 minutes, and the interviewer will be speaking for some of this.
• You probably won’t get much warning of when the interview will take place and may be asked to turn up very early in the morning.
• There may be a chance to have an informal chat with the interviewer or researcher before you go on air. Ask them what questions they plan to ask you.
• The interviewer will be as keen as you for the interview to go smoothly – it reflects badly on them if it doesn’t. Generally, they are not trying to catch you out.

Some essential do’s and don’ts