Have a glass of water on hand in case your mouth gets dry.
If you make a mistake or lose your train of thought, it's ok to ask to start your answer again.
Coming to the studio? Arrive at the ABC at least 15 minutes ahead of time to meet the producer and get set up.
Connecting via video call or phone? Make sure you're set up at least 15 minutes ahead of time – a producer will talk you through the best set up for audio and video.
At the end of TV and RADIO interviews, it is common practice for the producer to hang up the call without saying goodbye.
wear block colours – not patterns
set up in front of a bookshelf or artwork – not a blank wall
make sure the space is quiet and well lit
feel free to dress up, style your hair, and put on makeup
make sure the space is quiet and you won’t be disrupted
have some cushions and blankets around you to absorb any echoes
check that you have good reception
You may be asked to do the interview by phone or email
You can offer written responses if you feel more comfortable with that
We ran out of time: TV and radio programs have a set amount of time for broadcast, so stories may get cut.
We ran out of space: Articles have word limits so interviews may get cut to fit.
A different angle: As a reporter is working on a story, sometimes the focus changes as they get more information.
Breaking news: When a big story breaks, plans go out the window. Interviews can be dropped at a moment’s notice because we need to prioritise breaking news.
The right mix: Reporters and producers have to work very quickly to lock in interviews for their story. Some interviews may be cut because they need to have the right mix of views.