Camera Ready:How to Prep for a Televised Interview

DAN CENTINELLO

Television pushes viewers to judge

a candidate from a cosmetic

standpoint - their body language,

wardrobe, and expression. Even the

most logical arguments can fall flat

in a televised interview if the

interviewee appears rattled or

unprepared.

PREPARATION IS A MUST FOR

ANYONE LOOKING TO SPEAK

ON-AIR.

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO GET

READY FOR A TELEVISED

INTERVIEW.

Set the interview

context.

All of these questions need to be answered

in detail before a candidate tapes on a mic.

A would-be interviewee who walks in

without proper knowledge of what the

interview will be focused on risks appearing

confused, disorganized, or even uninformed

on-camera.

Where will the interview take

place?

How long will it be expected to

continue for?

Which topics will you be

discussing?

Do your

research.

The last thing an aspiring political figure

wants is to appear out-of-touch with current

political events - or worse, with their own

policies.

Make sure to review national and local

current events as well as your held campaign

policies and the opposition’s arguments

against them.

Have snappy quotes and statistics in hand to

support your position, and consider running

a few recorded practice interviews. This will

not only help you prepare, but it will

additionally help you find body language or

tics that translate poorly on screen.

Prepare your

staff.

Remember, everything is on the record

unless a specific agreement is made to

prohibit recorded comment - so talk to your

staff! Warn them of the reporter’s visit well in

advance, and then again on the day of the

interview.

Circulate a memo with official talking points

to avoid confusion, and consider appointing

a media-savvy staffer to act as a guide for the

reporter.

Finally, remember to clean up the campaign

office before the visit! No candidate wants to

be known as the politician who can’t keep

their own house in order.

Stay clear, concise, and

on-message.

Speakers will do nearly anything to avoid

awkward silences - and reporters know it! In

fact, many use long pauses as a means to

encourage the interviewee to talk more. Left

unchecked, a nervous interviewee might

break off onto a rambling tangent, and drop

their well-thought-out talking points.

Stay concise and directed! Answer

questions, but remember not to wander off

onto conversational paths that will land you

in hot political water later. Prepare clear

talking points, and stick to them!

Building positive rapport with the

media is a must for all candidates.

Prepare accordingly!