The Art of the TV Interview by Debra H. Goldstein

The Art of the TV Interview by Debra H. Goldstein

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to me doing a television appearance, I’ve a long way to go. Despite attending communication sessions at various conferences where I’ve learned several tips, I can’t seem to put them all together. Here are a few of the tips I’ve been taught:

1)    look at the camera, but maintain eye contact with your interviewer

2)    dress appropriately (go for solids rather than wild plaids or stripes and remember certain colors wash out or blend with the background),

3)    be prepared with soundbites or short stories (don’t be too practiced, but realize some interviewers will have read your book or story while others will think your cozy is a science fiction sports thriller),

4)    if asked for interview questions, provide them

5)    watch your body (are your hands flying all over the place or did you forget to keep your legs together in the queen’s cross?)

6)    speak slowly (we all get excited, but that’s a real problem for me)

7)    listen (this is a conversation… so look like you’re listening even if you’re jumping a mile ahead mentally to incorporate a point)

8)    ignore the audience (whether it is an auditorium or the stagehands, focus on your interviewer and interview),

Although I failed at many of these things, I had a lot of fun with a recent interview at Live at 9 with Marybeth Conley that aired on Memphis WREG-TV. You can see what I did wrong here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdW2JAOSImM

Do you have any stories about doing interviews? Leave a comment and one lucky U.S. winner will receive a copy of Two Bites Too Many, the subject of the WREG interview.