Speaking to the press doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and that’s OK. It’s common for attorneys who secure interviews to rely on training to feel prepared for and confident about their interactions with the media.

If you are tapped to serve as a source for a story, here are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Know your audience: Whom does the publication serve? What are the demographics and interests of the readership? This will help you frame your responses.
  • Know the reporter: Read past articles written by the reporter who requested the interview. Get a sense of the subject matter they usually cover and their style. This will help you build rapport during the interview because you might be able to cite articles they have written.
  • Get some information in advance: While not all reporters are willing to share their interview questions beforehand, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Even if they are unwilling to reveal their line of questioning ahead of time, they will probably give you some context that can help you strategize your talking points. 
  • Have a sense of what you are going to say: Speaking of talking points, have some. This doesn’t mean you want to script what you will say in advance, but you can at least outline the key messages you want to include in your responses.   

If you want to learn more about preparing for a media interview, check out this article by a Jaffe team member or this article by Lisa Altman.

How Jaffe Can Help You Prepare for Media Interviews

Jaffe’s PR consultants are experts at managing media relations. For more than 40 years, we have helped lawyers connect with journalists from major national and regional news outlets, as well as industry and legal trade publications. Whether you are looking to prepare a group or want a one-on-one coaching session, we can provide a media training program that meets your unique needs. In addition, as part of our media relations services, we provide our clients with information about the publications and reporters for media opportunities that have been secured. We also collaborate with attorneys to identify and compose key talking points.

If you are interested in learning more about our media training and media relations services, please contact Owner/CEO, Public Relations, Vivian Hood at vhood@jaffepr.com.