When I was 12 or 13, I acted in a local Shakespeare production for kids. Ignoring this rule is the classic way to get burned by an interview. If you let something interesting slip, even if it’s off topic or not representative of the truth according to your view, you can’t expect anyone to resist the chance to use that tidbit. You must remember that every member of the media, no matter how genial, is charged with writing an interesting article. The first step in dealing with the media is not to make any gaffes, and the first step in not making any gaffes is to remember that nothing is “off the record.” When it comes to dealing with journalists, “off the record” is a phrase that has no actual meaning. I myself have gone through a condensed media training and have been interviewed and quoted by the WSJ, the NYT, and other publications (as the homepage of this site is quick to remind you). But here’s a distillation of the key points that I’ve taken away from the process – they are like my class notes, for your enjoyment. It’s worthwhile even if you are adroit in mind and word. If you interact with the media or intend to, I recommend that you go through at least one formal media training session. The underlying concepts of this training are not only simple, but also applicable whenever you have to answer questions that may catch you off guard, such as when giving presentations or being interviewed for a job or program. “Media training” is preparation for interviews with journalists, either on camera or for print.
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