TV Interview Tips

Television interviews are the most challenging of all because they involve not only an exchange of information in response to reporter's questions, but the element of performance. Studies indicate that how we look in a television or personal appearance is far more important than what we say. Our gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice, according to UCLA Professor Albert Mehrabian and others, account for far more than the words we speak, yet we usually fret over the words and think little about how we look.

Of course you must be prepared with facts and your own objectives for a television interview. But if your words are not consistent with what people see - facial expressions and gestures - your word message can get lost.

Think Before Answering Questions

Do not feel pressured to answer quickly when asked a question. Take a second or two to think of a one-liner, a funny answer or something interesting about your experience. Many people who have never been interviewed on camera before feel pressured during television interviews to rush to answer a question as soon as it is asked. There is rarely enough time in a TV news broadcast to air footage of the reporter asking you the question - they only air the answers. So do not feel pressured to answer quickly. When asked a question, you can take a second or two.

Also Keep these tips in mind:

Backdrop

Political candidates learned long ago that the setting is as important as the words–often more important. If you're involved in a story, go to it. Attempt to conduct the interview in front of where your product is displayed or where your service is performed. If you own a car wash, hold the interview so the car wash can be seen in the background, not inside your building. Make sure to suggest these locations to the reporter or producer when he or she calls.

Wardrobe: Wear Your Logo

If your staff usually wears shirts with your company logo, wear one instead of a suit. It shows the logo and helps viewers understand who the heck you are - especially if they are not listening closely to what you are saying. Otherwise, avoid loud colors and small patterns. Blues, beiges and grays are best. Avoid yellow, pink, and lavender. Red is an energy color and will shift viewer attention from your face to what you're wearing.

Eye Contact

Maintain steady eye contact with the reporter during a television news interview. (The only exception is when you're in a live remote interview. If your eyes dart back and forth or wander around, the audience will be MUCH less inclined to believe what you say. Focus intently upon the reporter's eyes. During a discussion program, address responses to the host or the person asking the question. Veteran television guests sometimes speak directly to the camera, but you should not try that unless you know what you're doing.

Smile

When you smile your body language says, "I'm confident and comfortable in what I'm saying, and you can believe and trust me." Unfortunately, smiling is not always an easy thing to do, and we tend not to. To compound the problem, television is a two dimensional medium, and it flattens our faces, making any smile even less apparent. You must exaggerate your smile if you want it to be seen.

Posture

If sitting, lean slightly forward in the chair, with feet flat on the floor. If you tend to rock back and forth when standing, put one foot slightly ahead of the other. Let your hands hang naturally at the side. If you use hands to gesture, do it as you normally would, but move gestures to shoulder height (not in front of your face). Avoid sudden movements.

Glasses

Avoid wearing glasses unless you must. They tend to reflect studio - and outdoor lights, and make it difficult for the viewer to see your eyes. If you have contact lenses, wear them in preference to glasses. Never wear dark glasses, or glasses which are heavily tinted or light sensitive.

Makeup

Do not wear makeup. Men who are appearing on studio television programs should accept makeup if offered. Television lights are hot and tend to reflect off forehead perspiration or body oils which appear naturally. If possible, shave just before appearing to avoid any hint of a five o'clock shadow.

Be Yourself

The key to any television interview is to be yourself. Shift the focus to your objectives whenever possible. These are your comfort zones and you're going to appear much more confident and believable when talking about them than when in uncharted waters responding to a reporter's questions.

Three Key Points:

• How you look on television is more important than what you say.
• Steady eye contact and a smile portray confidence and believability.
• Be yourself and shift to your objective whenever possible.

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