How I Prepare For A Media Interview
My interview with the ABC in 2022. (2 minutes before a bug flew into my eye and all havoc broke loose!)
Media features are an independent business owner’s best friend, and if there’s one surefire way to leverage your status as the go-to professional in your field (whether you’re in real estate or any industry) — this is it.
The best part about news features is they’re free (apart from your time), they position you as a leader in your industry and introduce you and your brand to an entirely new audience that instantly associate you as the expert.
My televised interview with the ABC.
When a business news reporter from the ABC called me to see if I’d be interested in sharing my insights on the booming property market we were experiencing during Covid, I jumped at the opportunity.
This wasn’t the first time I had been interviewed by the media, but it was the first time my face was going to be on national television for millions to see, so from the moment I agreed to put myself on camera, I naturally had a few nerves brewing in the background. Who wouldn’t?!
“What the heck am I going to wear??” was the first thing that popped into my head, and it wasn’t long before I began obsessing about the pending interview and how I was going to show up.
Media features showcase your authority.
As a business professional, a media feature like this is a brilliant way to showcase your authority as an industry leader and get a few million eyeballs on your business and personal brand — so if the opportunity arises, you damn well take it.
Now, back to my interview —
What people don’t realise is that behind the camera, there is a LOT going on, and you need to prepare for this.
The ABC have interviewed me twice in the past years and during both interviews, (which were conducted outdoors and not in a studio) I had to contend with trying not to squint from the staged lighting being up in my face, the wind blowing my hair in all sorts of directions, and the crowd of onlookers who stop and stare, wanting to know what the heck is going on.
The introvert in me was screaming “get me out of here” but the business woman was telling her to calm her farm because these opportunities don’t come around every week.
Speaking clearly, and answering questions being fired at you from a reporter via a mobile phone held just slightly out of view whilst trying to look natural and not say the “wrong” thing is easier said than done!
Nope, the reporter wasn’t physically present for both of my news interviews. She was in Melbourne, so we had to make it look like I was talking to her in person (which again, adds another level of complexity to the interview).
Being interviewed is a whole other skillset.
In fact, I’ve learned it’s a whole other skillset to be interviewed by the media, and if you ever have the opportunity to be featured on national TV, I want you to have this heads up so you can better prepare and know what to expect.
Thank goodness the cameraman for both of my interviews had a light sense of humour and a level of patience I envied.
If there’s one takeaway I have, it’s that the cameraman makes all the difference. If he’s calm, you’re calm. If he’s stressed and in a rush, you’re having to work harder so they can get what they need and get out of there. The pressure is on.
I once had a grumpy photographer shoot me for a Courier Mail half page editorial and it made the entire experience incredibly unpleasant. The photo and article turned out great and I was impressed by my ability to “smile big” whilst grumpy pants was micro-managing every pose.
I honestly don’t know how the models do it!
So if you’re fronting up to camera, here is my advice on how to prep.
THE LOOK
Opt for a bold coloured professional looking jacket or top that covers your shoulders. They mostly shoot the top half up close, but consider your entire outfit because it will be featured in the B-roll — (more on that to come).
Red lipstick all the way (but do everything to keep it off your pearly whites!)
Teeth whitening 2 nights before the interview.
Pay more attention to hair and make-up on the day. (I opt for a heavier foundation than what I normally wear.)
THE INTERVIEW
Get a heads up from the reporter on the topic for discussion and pre-rehearse some key points on your stance.
I do a practice run with Ben the night before to get myself in interview mode.
Get a good nights sleep the evening before so you’re fresh the next day.
Turn up to the location 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled time so you can get comfortable with the setting.
Have a member of your team or a friend take photos and videos of your interview for social media content.
It’s normal to be nervous and if you feel yourself shaking, don’t worry - it doesn’t come across on camera.
The cameraman will likely want to shoot some B-roll of you. These are those scenes where you’re walking around looking busy and pretending to talk to people on the phone.
Expect the unexpected. In my last interview, a bug flew into my eye (luckily it was after we shot the final B-roll scenes) and the photographer had to help me get it out which was both embarrassing and traumatising!
In this interview for The Business (ABC news) I was trying so hard not to squint. (That's Ben's feet in the frame.)
Don’t be afraid to Tell Everyone
And one last point, tell everyone you know - friends, family, haters, social media followers, colleagues, neighbours, clients and referral partners that you’ll be featured in the news. It’s tempting to keep it quiet because you don’t know how your interview will come across, but trust me, no one will be scrutinising you, and the TV segment is over and done in less than 5 minutes.
The interview always turns out better than you expected because the media will never release something sub-par.
What the audience will see is a leading professional who the media chose as their go-to expert.
(And someone who had the balls to get on camera.)
MEET THE WRITER
Hi. I’m Wendy.
I’m a storytelling writer, champagne lover and Luxury Buyer’s Agent based in Brisbane Australia. I share my journey as an independent real estate professional and self-made career woman.
Wendy Russell is a Luxury Buyer’s Agent, social introvert and self-made career woman on a mission to help you build your empire. It starts here.
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