A television interview can leave little time to find the clearest version of your answer. Preparing the subject, understanding the format and rehearsing a few realistic questions will help you make better use of the opportunity.
These television interview tips provide a practical sequence for before, during and after an appearance. They apply whether you are discussing positive news or answering questions about a difficult issue.
Confirm the brief before preparing your answers
Ask the producer what the interview is about, who the audience is and why they want your contribution. Confirm whether it is live or recorded, how long your contribution is expected to last and whether anyone else will take part.
Check the location and practical arrangements. A studio discussion, an interview at your workplace and a contribution through a remote connection can all require different preparation. Ask about the setup rather than guessing where to look or how the interview will begin.
An agreed topic gives you a useful starting point, but it does not guarantee every question. Prepare for the reasonable challenges a journalist might raise about the subject.
Choose the points the audience needs
Identify a small number of points you want viewers to understand. Support each with a relevant fact or example that you can explain without a long introduction.
For a hypothetical interview about opening a new facility, an answer could begin: “The new centre brings our advice and support teams together in one place.” You could then explain what that means for the people using it. Starting with an internal project history would make the practical benefit harder to find.
Check the limits of your knowledge and authority as well as the positive points. Decide which figures are confirmed, what still needs checking and who can answer questions outside your remit.
Rehearse questions rather than a fixed speech
Ask a colleague to put several plausible questions to you in a different order. Include one that challenges your main point and one you cannot answer fully.
Practise giving the answer first, then the explanation. Keep the wording conversational. Memorising a paragraph can make it harder to respond when the interviewer asks a slightly different question or interrupts halfway through.
A short recording can reveal whether your explanation is clear. Listen for unnecessary background, unexplained terms and sentences that become difficult to follow. Work on one improvement and record the answer again.
Keep the practical details simple
Follow the production team’s advice on clothing, microphones and the setting. Choose something comfortable that suits your role and does not distract you. Avoid noisy jewellery or other items that may interfere with the microphone.
For a remote contribution, check your connection, sound and camera position using the agreed platform. Keep your background suitable for the interview and remove notifications or interruptions. Tell the producer promptly if you cannot hear properly.
Allow time to settle before the interview. Practical uncertainty is easier to deal with before the presenter introduces you.
Listen carefully and answer what was asked
During the interview, concentrate on the question rather than waiting for an opening to deliver your prepared message. If the question contains an inaccurate assumption, correct it calmly before giving the relevant explanation.
If you are interrupted, avoid trying to finish an entire prepared answer at once. Listen to the new question and respond to the point that needs addressing. A clear, direct sentence is often more useful than speaking faster to include every detail.
When a question falls outside what you can confirm, explain the limit. “I do not have that figure with me” should be followed, where appropriate, by what you do know and how the missing information can be checked.
Let your delivery support the explanation
Speak at a pace that allows viewers to follow the point. Pause when you need to think, and use natural gestures rather than trying to keep completely still.
Follow the crew’s direction about where to look. The right approach depends on whether you are speaking to an interviewer beside the camera or contributing through a different setup. One rule about eye contact will not suit every television format.
Continue paying attention while other people speak. Until the production team confirms the interview has ended, treat the camera and microphone as active.
Correct mistakes clearly and review the interview
If you give an incorrect fact, correct it as soon as you can. State the accurate information plainly rather than hoping the error will disappear in an edit. In a recorded interview, ask how the correction will be handled; do not assume there will be a retake or editorial approval.
Afterwards, review the interview with your communications team. Did the answer address the question? Was the main explanation understandable? Note a small number of useful changes for next time.
Turn preparation into practical interview skills
A checklist is a useful starting point, but rehearsal helps you apply it when a question is unexpected or the time is short. Hawkeye Media’s TV interview training and coaching provides practical preparation for broadcast appearances.
For related preparation, read what can go wrong during a broadcast interview, or speak to the team about your next television interview.