The Media Trainers®

"Anyone who talks about you...or your business...is media!"

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The Media Trainers®

4220 Cove Court, NE
Marietta, GA 30067
770-971-6619

Pre-interview the Interviewer

The news interview does not have to be a unilateral experience. If a reporter wants to interview you, make sure you do your own information gathering.

One warning, first, however. Don’t ask for the questions in advance. Most reporters take offense to that kind of demand. It tells them they are being editorially corralled and restricted from asking follow ups. You can usually get the information you need by asking other questions, instead. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Trade publication reporters/editors sometimes offer to give you the questions in advance. You probably won’t want to turn them down; indeed, you might even offer additional questions that can help them, and you!

Earlier this year, the PRNewser offered six questions you should ask a reporter BEFORE the interview. This is a pretty good list. And, it correctly advises you to tread lightly with questions that might indicate you are trying to gain some editorial control. Your choice of words and tone of voice are important to how and what you ask for.

Additionally, ask if there’s any background information you can provide. Or, can the reporter use some visuals for print, Internet or TV stories. These are questions that show you want to be helpful.

Do some other due diligence, too. Find out the reporter’s style and temperament. The Internet is a wonderful source for researching earlier stories they have done. You might find out they’re reporting has a pattern of bias either for, or against you, your business and/or your industry. But, even if you find that they may be negative forces, there’s still opportunity in doing the interview.

As long as you are well prepared with messages and control of your own emotions.

Over 25 years of local & network news reporting and management experience
- Comprehensive knowledge of how media work and how to work with the media
- Managed more than 50 people
- Able to spot and develop talent
  - Hired and developed syndicated talk hosts Sean Hannity and Clark Howard and several news reporters who have gone on to network positions
  - Successfully molded and directed individuals into award winning broadcasters; more than 40 international, national, regional and statewide awards
- An understanding of running a business
  - Managed a seven figure budget
Deep experience in customized training
- TMT has conducted more than 450 workshops and consulting sessions with over 90 clients. Workshops are designed around the needs of each participant based on:
  - Their specific role inside the organization
  - Their available time for training
  - Their comfort level
  - Their level of experience dealing with the media
  - The type of interview(s) they will be doing
- Depending on your needs, our training will include:
  - Media skills built around The Media Trainers® 10 Rules of Interviewing™.
  - Tough questions preparations focusing on the most difficult inquiries reporters are apt to make.
  - Message development that gets your team "on message" to avert a crisis, diffuse an issue or promote your company.
  - Role playing, mock interviews and video clips drawn from our extensive library.
Attention to detail
- A Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company executive:
  - "A training program where somebody spoke our language, prepared materials that reflected our business needs, and gave us just the right amount of useful materials."
- A Coca-Cola Company executive:
  - "I was significantly impressed by the pertinent and well-researched, well prepared questions. Much better than my Proctor & Gamble training."
- A Southern Company executive:
  - "I believe that this training was right on target to what we needed. The trainer was well prepared, not only for our industry, but also our project subject matter. Thanks!"
- A Georgia Power Company executive:
  - "Trainer obviously knows our business and was excellent in identifying the areas we may be presented with while dealing with the media."
- A Mirant executive:
  - "I was very impressed with the prep work done by the trainer relating to our business. Our industry is complex and he quickly adjusted to our local (Canada) issues."
- An AGL Resources executive:
  - "Your training is straightforward and completely accomplished my objectives. Thank you for the open, honest feedback and relaying real life experiences."
Exclusive Tools Transferred to You
- Through hundreds of training sessions and constant refinement, we have developed a set of proprietary media and communications training tools that are fast and easy to use. Our kit creates message structure, and makes your communications tangible and focused on results. Proprietary communications tools include:
  - TMT's 10 Rules of Interviewing™
  - TMT's Exposure Grid™
  - TMT's 30 Minute News Interview Planner™

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Downloads

Pre-interview the Interviewer

The news interview does not have to be a unilateral experience. If a reporter wants to interview you, make sure you do your own information gathering.

The Media Trainers® Advantage

Over 25 years of local & network news reporting and management experience

Deep experience in customized training

Attention to detail

Exclusive Tools Transferred to You

Executive Rewind

TMT’s eNewsletter