Mastering radio interviews

How to ensure you have a successful radio news interview

Some people refer to the radio as the “theater of the mind.” It is very important to get your message across with enthusiasm in order to excite the imagination and capture the mindshare of your audience. Here are some “inside tips” that we give our clients to help them master their radio interviews:

General tips

Remember that radio reporters typically want short sound bites.
Describe the topic so the listener can envision it. Connect with the listener in his car or home.
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
Always assume you’re being recorded the entire time you’re in the studio.
Don’t let silence intimidate you; feel free to pause.
Avoid “uh”s and “um”s.
Have your talking points nearby – since you’re not on camera, you can refer to them throughout the interview as necessary.
To highlight a point, say, “This is really important...”
Avoid background noise when doing a radio interview in-person or via telephone.
Sit up straight or even stand up (it energizes your speech).
Behave as if you were on camera – it will help you stay animated and energetic.
Smile. Although listeners won’t see it, they’ll be able to hear it.

Radio interviews with other guests

Don’t let other guests hijack the agenda.
If you disagree, do it firmly and politely.
Never get into a heated discussion on the air – remember the listener.
Speak directly to other guests rather than speaking to them through the host.
Affirm positive questions. Say, “I’m glad you asked that...” or “That’s a good question...”

The tone of your voice and your enthusiasm will say a lot about you and the company you are representing. It’s important to remember that what you say and the way you say it must hook your end consumer. Axia Public Relations is prepared to help you nail your radio interview. Feel free to contact the Axia team with further questions, for interview practice or for information on our MediaMaster spokesperson training program.

jason-mudd-axia-pr-1 Jason Mudd, APR, is CEO of Axia Public Relations. He is certified in inbound marketing and is an Emmy Award-winning, accredited public relations practitioner, speaker, author and entrepreneur. Connect with Jason on Twitter @jasonmudd9 and Axia Public Relations @axiapr. Be sure to tweet and share your thoughts below. We’ll read and respond to each of them.