The following tips will help guide you through your interview:

Be positive

Try not to appear negative or confrontational. A hostile attitude will make it difficult for viewers to take your point seriously.

Stay calm

While emotional outbursts may make good TV, they will erode your credibility.

Treat the interviewer with respect

Remember that when you speak to a reporter, you're potentially speaking to an audience of hundreds or thousands of people.

If you don't know the answer to a question, be honest

Say that you don't know, but you'll try to get the information. Make sure you keep that promise, though - nothing sours a good relationship with a reporter faster than keeping him/her waiting for necessary information.

Speak clearly and firmly

Offer the reporter just the facts; don't speculate or estimate, even if you're asked to. Don't feel you have to fill "dead air" - that's the interviewer's job. When you've answered a question, stop talking.

Be helpful

Suggest other sources the reporter could interview. Mention anything that you think might be helpful and offer approaches s/he may not have thought of.

Don't worry about repeating your main message

Your goal is to make sure your message gets across. If that's the only answer you offer the interviewer, then they will have no choice but to use it.

Don't be afraid to assert yourself

If you're uncomfortable answering a question, just say firmly that you don't think you are the appropriate person to comment. Remember that no reporter has the right to bully you into answering a question if you don't want to. (For more information on what reporters should and shouldn't do, see Your Rights as an Interviewee)

TV Appearances

TV interviews are different from those done for print or radio. In TV interviews your appearance can be just as important as your words. Here are some general tips:

• Ask the reporter ahead of time what s/he plans to ask you. This will give you a chance to think of what you want to say before the cameras start rolling. The location of the interview could reflect on the story, so if you have a choice, suggest a location you're comfortable with.
  
  
• Avoid wearing anything that could distract the audience from what you say, such as extremely bright clothing, busy patterns or large jewellery.
  
  
• Whether you like it or not, people will judge you on how you look, so try to look professional and tidy. Ask yourself which do you want to stand more: your appearance or your words?
  
  
• Always maintain eye contact with the person you're speaking to. This could be one reporter, several reporters, or a studio audience. But avoid looking at the camera - just pretend it's not there.
  
  
• Speak in short, concise sentences. If you answer reporters clearly, they're less likely to edit your statements - and maybe cut out important points. Remember, the average interview clip in a news story is only 7-15 seconds!
  
  
• Sit still or stand still. Try not to fidget in front of the camera - small movements such as nail biting or foot tapping are magnified on screen. Sit with your hands folded in your lap and both feet planted on the ground. No swivel chairs or rocking chairs!