So often in interviews, the general style and body language of the interviewee conveys more than what is actually said. If someone looks away, or looks shifty when a particular question is asked, the reporter is likely to notice this, if only subconsciously. It draws attention, perhaps to the very issue the interviewee is hoping to avoid. Often, too, people will gabble – perhaps out of nerves – and this means they covey a less authoritative impression. These people are also less likely to be quoted accurately, if the reporter has not managed to catch everything they have said. It’s a point that often comes out in the video feedback in our media training courses. In Chapter Six of The M-factor: media confidence for business leaders and managers, I look at avoiding some of the pitfalls, and building believability and trust:
Tom on X
How do you cope if a broadcast interview becomes more aggressive than you were expecting?
We can now offer on-camera and autocue skills coaching for spokespeople who have to present online video material or webinars.
