PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW #3

NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS

There are 2 ways of conducting an interview for a newspaper. 

1. A popular method is for the reporter to conduct the interview over the phone. This allows the reporter to gather the information needed for a story, while allowing the interviewee (you) to share their story at a convenient time and location.

• Preferably do the interview over a stable landline connection, with a backup mobile number.
• If the newspaper requires a photo for the story, they will most likely send out a photographer to take print-quality images.
• Prepare some high resolution images for your cause as a back-up, just in case the newspaper cannot send out a photographer. You can use a mobile or handheld camera for these photos. Just make sure that they are not blurry, that they are high-resolution and haven't been used in other media outlets or publications. 

2. Reporters can arrive at a pre-planned location such as your home, club, charity office or venue (if you have a specific event for your cause) to conduct a face-to-face interview and photoshoot. A face-to-face interview allows you to spend more time with the reporter, which gives you the opportunity to walk the reporter through your story or cause. 

For example, if your cause is about your battle with a degenerative disorder, a face-to-face interview held at your house gives you the opportunity to show the reporter the everyday struggles you go through - providing a more compelling insight into your story. 

RADIO INTERVIEWS

There are 2 types of radio interviews - a newsgrab and a feature interview. 

1. Newsgrabs are short 10 - 30 second audio clips aired during the hourly or half-hourly news bulletin on radio. It's designed to capture key messages and information about a story. 

Newsgrab interviews are usually conducted over the phone. Make sure you use a stable landline phone connection - with a backup mobile just in case you need to call the newsroom if a distruption in the line occurs. 

2. Feature interviews are longer and last between 3 - 15 minutes. Feature interviews on radio are designed to be just like a conversation, but between you and the presenter - giving you the opportunity to paint a picture for the listeners, detailing your cause for a more interesting and compelling radio piece. 

Feature interviews can be conducted over the phone or in-studio. An in-studio interview can provide more air-time for your story, which helps you pump out key messages relevant to your cause. Feature interviews can either be pre-recorded or live-to-air. A live-to-air interview over the phone or in-studio might be a bit challenging for a first time media interviewee, so the radio station will generally tend to do a pre-record of the interview which is played back on air at a later time. 

TELEVISION INTERVIEWS

Television interviews aren't as daunting nor challenging as some suggest. TV interviews are very similar to a radio or newspaper interview - the only difference if that it will generally be a pre-record with a journalist, guiding you through the interview with a camera operator who will be doing the filming. 

SUGGESTED KEY POINTS AND MESSAGES TO MAKE IN THE INTERVIEW

If it's your first time doing media, then it is quite natural to feel nervous. No one should expect you to be an expert with advanced interview skills, or well-versed in interview techniques.

Remember, an opportunity to do either a live or pre-recorded interview is an opportunity for you to get your messages across and explain to Australians (and abroad) what your cause is all about. 

Place yourself in a state of mind where you can connect with all the information you want to share. Be ready to use key messages and information as needed.

Note that in an interview, an interviewee is not always in control. The media interviewer is in control of how the interview will be conducted and what questons will be asked - however, you can suggest questions which you do not wish to answer as they might be sensitive and inappropriate. 

You will have to control your tone and how you react and respond to a question.

Before any media interview, prepare a minimum of 10 bullet points of messages and information you will touch on during the interview. Make sure you use powerful, dramatic, emotive and catchy lines to really grab the viewers' attention. 

Some suggested points and key messages to make during your interview are:

• Highlight the campaign
• What is your cause? Are you or others suffering unjustly and need help?
• Is there a disease or illness that either you, or someone else needs financial support or assistance with?
• Why is your cause a cause for concern?
• Who are you and what would you like to accomplish with your campaign?
• How can people help your cause? E.g. by getting onto mycause.com.au or onto a website or Facebook page (NOTE: make sure you have placed appropriate links into your website or Facebook page which directly link guests to your mycause campaign).
• How is your campaign vital and why?

Stay on message and let the audience know how they can help e.g. "A fundraiser has been set up on mycause. We would appreciate any support you can show by getting onto mycause.com.au/YOURCAMPAIGNNAME

If you need further help with preparing a media release or if you would like to know what will make your story newsworthy, then please get in touch with the mycause Media and Communications team www.mycause.com.au/help

MEDIA RELEASE #1

APPROACH MEDIA #2