Media Interviews

As part of your local F.A.S.T. campaign you could contact your local radio station and see if they would be interested in doing an interview about stroke and the F.A.S.T. campaign. They migth be interested in talking to a member of the campaign group, a person who has had a stroke and a nurse or doctor working in stroke care. 

Preparing for media interviews

• Use as little jargon as possible. When possible, tell stories and anecdotes that illustrate your point and give examples.
• Keep the answers short.
• Think about what you want to say before you speak. Decide on two or three main points you would like to make about your subject. Use facts and figures to support your points where you can. Anticipate questions the reporter might ask and have responses ready.
• Speak in complete thoughts. The reporter’s question may be edited out and your response should stand on its own. This is especially important for radio/TV interviews.
• Never say anything you do not want to read in print, hear on the radio, or see on television or on the internet.
• Be confident. You are the expert about your F.A.S.T. campaign.
  

• Decide on the most important thing you want to say and two or three smaller points you want to make.
• Anticipate the reporter’s questions. What are your key messages? Answer difficult or irrelevant questions as briefly as possible, then speak to your key messages.
• If possible, provide the reporter/interviewer with a written summary of information, main points or statistics in advance (this could be your press release). This will help them ask more informed questions, which will enable you to get your message out more effectively.
  

• State the most important information first – then provide the background.
• Keep responses brief, but long enough to help the reporter get quotes.
• Stick to your main points and do not allow yourself to get drawn too far off on tangents. Many people make the mistake of talking too much. Repeat your points if necessary to get back on track.
• Mention your subject [stroke, F.A.S.T. campaign] by name several times during the interview, rather than saying “it”.
• Make eye contact with the reporter.
• Don’t overestimate a reporter’s knowledge of your subject.
• If a reporter bases questions on information you believe is incorrect, do not hesitate to set the record straight. Offer background information where necessary.
• Identify anything you say as either fact or opinion. Your opinions are your own, but fact is fact.
• If you do not understand a question, ask for clarification rather than talking around it. If you do not have the answer, say so. Tell the reporter where to find the information, if possible.
• Make your final comment clear and concise, reemphasizing your main point. If you feel that you failed to get the message out, force it in at the end.