You’ve just finished your interview for CNBC. You looked great on TV and you delivered your message well. You still, however, have to give a few more interviews to some disheveled and rumpled print reporters, so now it’s time to sit back and relax, right?
Wrong!
Even though the TV camera is no longer present, these print reporters are judging every aspect of your body language and voice (whether they are conscious of doing so or not).
(And you aren’t the primary subject of the story)
1. Timeliness Is Key.
Pretty good answers NOW are a lot more valuable than perfect answers tomorrow. If the story is breaking and the reporter calls now, you need to react quickly. If you have to take 20 minutes to prepare message points and sound bites, do so. But make sure the reporter knows you will absolutely, positively 100% call back in 20 minutes or less. And then do it. If a reporter from a major national TV network or newspaper calls you for the first time, give them an interview RIGHT THEN. If you let them off the phone for even 5 minutes you might not ever get them back.