10 important guidelines for your next media interview

Executives and others representing their organizations might be wary of sitting down with a journalist, but certain important steps to take—or avoid—will help things go smoothly.

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One media training client told me he refuses to speak with reporters unless they allow him to approve the story before it runs.

Another told me her boss surreptitiously records media interviews in case the reporter “screws” him.

Yet another informed me that her organization refuses to allow spokespeople to speak on the record.

Such stories are more common than you might think. And though there’s a place for insisting upon certain interviewing ground rules, it’s also important to ensure your requests are truly in your best interest—and that they don’t violate newsroom protocols maintained by many media organizations.

Here are 10 of the most important ground rules for working with reporters:

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