You see, in any issue based interview, the journalist is going to come at you with negative questioning and, if you do nothing to counter that, the whole interview will end up as a negative quagmire from which it will be almost impossible for you to escape with any dignity intact.
After several decades of television news and current affairs experience and an equal amount of time media training I can honestly say that the rules for handling tough media interviews haven't changed at all and I can't see that they ever will. You have to stand up for yourself and not let the journalist browbeat you; you have to make sure you get some of your "equalising" positive points across; you have to do it in an as entertaining way as possible within the confines of the issue and you certainly have to do your preparation which includes filtering what information you should be imparting as well as working out your main two-to-three points you want to get across in the interview.
Other points, that apply to all media interviews, are to keep your language simple but powerful, be concise and never forget the audience you're talking to through that journalist ' who they are and where they are? Also remember to avoid using that awful phrase, 'no comment'. At the very least, give the media the reason why you can't comment as this provides the journalist with something useful for his/her audience. It also gives a better image of you as you don't appear arrogant or as if you're trying to hide something.
Don't be like the politicians who tend to ignore the actual question. Politicians invariably have very low credibility because of this. Be seen to answer the difficult question but stay general. Then, try to counter with some positive aspect and go very specific. Don't be boring, actally paint a piucture with your words so the public can see what you mean, not just hear it.
Use mirth again any way-out accusations. It works a treat. Use the same technique if you try to put down the journalist. This latter technique usually fails if attempted in a serious manner.
A so-called doorstop interview can be rwal trouble. Give them a miss, if you can, till you have a couple under your belt. Remember that the journalists in a doorstop are playing to opposition news directors as well as to their audience. I know quite a few journalists who have improved their careers markedly by being tough in a doorstop situation. If you can't avoid the doorstop, make an excuse to check the latest details to get back inside and do a mini-preparation, say 3 minutes, and then go back into the fray but be in absolute control.
If other media outlets have already printed/broadcast wrong information, use your interview to counter that so the mistake is not propagated.
Finally, always remember that it's YOUR interview as well as the journalist's.
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If its experience you want in an author, then Graham Kelly has bucketloads of it, both in journalism and in media training. He has written three editions of the media training bible, Managing the Media and has trained thousands of executives in how to handle the media, particularly tough interviews. He has two websites, one with training details and the other with information on his book, Managing the Media
