On-Camera Media Interview Techniques
If you’ve landed the big TV interview that you’ve been chasing for months, congratulations!
It’s important to know key interview techniques to help you (your CEO, boss, or client) look confident, poised and comfortable in front of the camera. You’ll notice most of these also work if you are recording video segments for your website or social media networks.
Here are five tips to help you prepare and succeed in front of the camera:
1- Pretend the camera isn’t there. Sit comfortably in a chair and act as if someone at a party casually asked you about your new project. Be casual, knowledgeable, confident and clear. Ignore the camera/crew and speak directly to the person who asked the question.
2- Wear dark solid colors. Ask your contact person the color of the set so you don’t clash. Avoid stripes and busy patterns that are distracting. Stay away from light colors that will appear washed out. Go easy on the accessories too!
3- Prepare your answers by thinking and speaking in sound bites. You may not know the questions that will be asked, but make a list of what you anticipate and formulate short, punchy responses that are 15-30 seconds in length. Use simple language. You don’t want to leave the viewers confused with industry jargon and rhetoric. Speak to express, not to impress. Clarity is key.
4- Tie in a real-life example or a short anecdote to pull in the emotional piece of your story. You may be a wiz on the funding of your new project, but viewers are more interested in the impact it will have on people and the community (value to them). Put a face on the story.
5- Smile and relax. Television is a visual medium. You may be a “Talking Head” for a portion of the segment with the camera panning wide at the beginning or end. Use your body, gestures, eye contact and a strong voice to deliver a confident and poised message.
Bonus! Listen carefully to the host and the questions. They may veer slightly off track or ask something you’re not completely prepared for. That’s why you should not script out your answers. Simply know your material. Follow their lead don’t rush to respond. If you don’t know the answer, it’s ok to say so. Be genuine and honest and you’ll be invited back.
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