TV Interviews Be Careful

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Reporters are not your friend. Stay alert.

Godfrey the comedian, host of in Godfrey we trust podcast, does a brilliant Barack Obama. Listening to him, you forget that it's not the former U.S. President talking. Obama took his time answering questions and Godfrey does that very well. Caution. The former president was careful with answers, because he knew that once they are out there, it is licence to kill, distort, cut-and-paste and what have you.

You should too. A television station might call and ask for an interview, but you are 200 miles away. No problem. You’ll stay at home or office and they’ll do it by zoom. Technology or no technology, be prepared.

On Camera Looks
Whatever the reason, your first television interview will be a piece of cake if you understand the importance of two things:

·         how you look and;

·         how you answer questions

How you look supersedes everything because although television interviews should be about information, people tend to remember how you looked and not what you said.

Sensationalism
Visuals. Television stations want to interview you because they think you have something, but they are also hoping you will give them ‘great tape.’

Everything is digital now but producers still call it ‘great tape’. Politicians calling each other names in the House of Commons or Congress is great tape. A prime minister who does not know the first name of a visiting head of state is great tape. A president who uses the f..... word is great tape.

Celebrities caught on camera kissing people who are not in their marriage certificates is great tape. It is about visuals. That is why grief-stricken people with tears down their faces, cause great excitement in the news room. “We have great tape.”

Unlike talk shows and documentaries, television is about brevity. Television does not have time because producers can only use a short clip of 30 seconds or a minute, of an interview that is 30 minutes long, so they need something dramatic, people at home will remember.  That is where the concept of a great tape comes from.

Nonqaba Waka Msimang

Executive Blogger

 

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