Overcoming the fear of media interviews through training

Overcoming the fear of media interviews

She came into the session convinced she was terrible at media interviews.

Fifteen years of experience. A genuine expert in her field.

But the moment a camera appeared, everything she knew seemed to disappear.

“I overcomplicate everything,” she told me beforehand. “I try to get across five points when one would do.”

At least she knew it.

What she didn’t know was why it kept happening and that it was completely fixable.

By the end of the day and the final interview, she watched herself back on camera and said something I hear more often than you’d think.

“I felt so much better prepared, and you can see that when I’m answering – such a big difference from my first interview!”

And it was.

It took just a few hours to help her find her voice.

If you or your team feel hesitant about facing the camera, our media training can help you find your voice and speak in media interviews with confidence. Please get in touch to see how we can help you prepare for your next interview.

Why spokesperson preparation is the most important part of a crisis response

The Spokesperson Brief

Most organisations spend hours perfecting a statement but overlook spokesperson preparation.

They then hand that statement to someone who has often not seen it before that morning, and wonder why the interview doesn’t land.

A statement is only as strong as the person delivering it. Which means spokesperson preparation isn’t optional, it’s the most important part of your entire crisis response.

Over the years, I’ve developed a pre-interview brief I give every spokesperson before they face a journalist.

Not a script. Not a list of things to avoid. Rather, a brief that means they walk into that interview knowing exactly where they stand.

This is it.

The spokesperson brief

A strong statement is only effective if the person delivering it is ready for the pressure of a journalist’s questions. If you need to ensure your leaders are fully prepared, find out more about our media training and preparation services.