Appear professionally in the media! (4)

Dos and Don'ts in the press conference

FIT FOR YOUR MEDIA PRESENCE

The camera is set up, the microphone is pointed at you ... That can be a little intimidating. Find out today what you should do in any case and what you should better not do.

You should definitely do this:

• Reduce distance to journalists: Reduce the distance to your conversation partners in a targeted manner. And if it's a few words about the weather ... Small talk quickly creates a more relaxed atmosphere and reduces your tension.
• Post length: 20, 40, 120 Sekunden? Um zu wissen, wie ausführlich Sie sprechen können, ist es nötig, das Format des fertigen Interviews zu kennen. Oft werden nur einzelne Sätze verwendet. Umso mehr kommt es darauf an, dass Sie Ihre “Sager” gut vorbereitet haben. Erfragen Sie vor dem Gespräch die geplante Länge des Beitrags.
• Freedom of movement: Discuss the size of the camera shot in advance. Are you completely in the picture, just your upper body, or just your face?
• Not satisfied with your statements? No problem. After all, journalists can't do anything with imprecise or overly long-winded interview contributions. So be confident and ask for a replay unless the conversation is live.
• Innuendo? It is your right to correct or reject insinuations.

You should avoid this at all costs

DOS AND DON'TS IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE

• Keine “Verkündigung”!Maintain eye contact with the reporter, do not look into the camera. On TV, this is reserved for the presenters – or the Pope and President.
• “Off Records”?Beware of thoughtless private statements in front of journalists. Every sentence in the course of a press conference is carefully received. The job of a journalist is to make the best possible use of interesting information.
• To retract statements? If the day after the interview you have concerns about whether it was right to say this or that ... Then it's too late! The retraction of statements is only possible if material circumstances have changed in a comprehensible and verifiable manner.
• Do you feel rushed? Lassen Sie es nicht zu, denn der Schaden ist hinterher der Ihre. Bedenken Sie immer: Sie sind der “Star” des Gesprächs. Sie beginnen, wenn Sie bereit sind. Sie können jederzeit die Spielregeln festlegen. Behalten Sie immer im Bewusstsein, dass Sie es sind, der oder die im Mittelpunkt der Geschichte stehen wird. Es ist schließlich Ihr Bild, das in der Öffentlichkeit gezeigt wird.

Practical tip
Whatever you are asked in the interview, keep thinking back to your preparation: “Was soll bei meinen Zuhörer ankommen? Welche drängenden Fragen meiner Zuhörer will ich verständlich beantworten?”

Legal

FOR ALL OCCASIONS

The checklist on this page tells you what it looks like from the point of view of the lawmakers. You can download it free of charge, save it and print it out for your records.

Download the short checklist on the topic here Legal aspects of your media presence (PDF) down.

Practical tip
If you have any legal concerns prior to an interview, contact your legal team. Corrections after the fact usually have much less effect than the controversial report itself.

I look forward to your feedback. Or do you have a question?
Write to me! Until the next online tip, I wish you good luck and much success!

You
Arno Fischbacher