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| Special Thanks to Texas Watch for the Following Activism Tips |
Tips for Communicating with the Media
The first rule to remember when speaking with the media is to simply tell your story in a concise and straightforward fashion. It can be intimidating to speak into a microphone or a camera for the first time, but with preparation you can be very effective.
1. Tell your story.
You do not have to be an expert, or present scholarly analyses. You are already an expert on the thing the media wants to present: your story. Be prepared to stick to the main events of your story.
2. Prepare.
It is best to speak with reporters with an outline already prepared. An outline helps organize the points you want to make and helps you be direct and thorough. Even the most seasoned speakers can get nervous and forget their train of thought once the tape or camera is rolling. Reporters may ask for questions during your story, but an outline can help bring you back to your points easily and quickly.
3. Be concise.
Television interviews will present 10 to 30 seconds of your presentation. Newspaper reports will present 1 to 2 sentence quotes. If you tell your stories in concise sentences, highlighting only the major points, the reporters will be able to present meaningful comments about your story. Don't worry about nitty-gritty details. If reporters want further clarification, they'll ask.
4. Make the connection.
Reporters consider many stories in a given day. The best way to capture their attention is to explain why it is important to their viewers and your community. Why are you sharing your story? To help someone avoid the same problem you encountered? To call attention to a problem that legislators or politicians should consider?
5. Be polite and considerate.
Be sure not to say anything that you would not want to read in print or see on television-anything you say is fair game for a reporter. Also be considerate of the reporter's time. He or she may have several stories to cover in one day. Remember that the reporter controls what the final story says or look like.
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