194 How to Sell Yourself
- Who you’re representing.
- Legislation or issue.
- Areas of consideration.
- Your position or argument.
- What you’d like to see accomplished.
Lustberg on...
A winning media interview.
Prepare.
Get together with your team and throw the toughest curves
you can at one another. Practice, practice, practice.
Pause.
Stop and think before you speak. A second or two might feel
awkward to you, but your audience welcomes a moment to think
about what’s just been said.
Remain silent.
Keep quiet in the...uh,...y’know...the...uh, uh...pause...know
what I mean?
Inform.
Your job in an interview is to give information.Don’t speak off the record.
If you don’t want it in print, hear it on the radio, or watch it
repeated on television, don’t say it.
Be honest.
If there’s a problem, acknowledge it. Admit it if you don’t
know the answer.
Be the voice of reason.
Getting angry, losing your cool, or taking an attack personally
plays right into the tabloid reporter’s hands. It makes good copy—
for everyone but you.
Be positive.
Instead of using “didn’t,” “don’t,” or “won’t,” tell us what you
did, do, or will do.