Know Your Audience
Find out about the media outlet and what issues the reporters care about and how they represent them.
Plan What You'll Say
- Develop 2-3 main talking points along with the policies and practices that support them. Consult NCTE policies:
Practice
- Practice by responding to the toughest and best questions you guess the reporter will ask.
During Your Interview with a Reporter
- Be prepared and be yourself.
- Keep your “crib sheet” of 2-3 points plus examples and policies nearby.
- Be positive, honest, and straightforward -- think of the interview as a good conversation, not a debate.
- Use personal stories to illustrate your points, and analogies when possible to clarify your points.
- Speak and listen.
- Use everyday language; don’t use jargon.
- Admit when you don’t know the answer to a question; never say “No comment.”
- Listen; empathize; pause to gather your thoughts; and don’t allow words to be put in your mouth.
After an Interview with a Reporter
- Before you hang up, ask the reporter when the story will run.
- After you hang up, send a two-sentence note to NCTE about the interview; email public_info@ncte.org or the NCTE staffer who set up the interview.
A Few Words about the Press and Reporters
- They are not our enemies. They are a sister profession, whose work is anchored in the First Amendment. Many are professional writers and researchers.
- Their job is to get a story out.
- They are looking for an angle and some good quotes.
- It’s their job to ask tough questions.
- They have word limits.
- They are coming to you because they know you are an expert and they want you to share your expertise.
- They are bound by ethical standards.
- They sometimes come to a story with false assumptions which they will give up when you give them proper evidence to the contrary.
- When NCTE receives a request from the press for an interview, we contact the spokesperson who seems best for the job -- usually by email.
- Often reporters are on tight deadlines, so your timely response, even to say “No,” is important.
- We’ll send you links to the positions and policies we send the reporter.
- We’re available to you as a resource for background on the media outlet, the reporter, the stated angle of the story, and the NCTE positions.
- Note: if you don’t agree with the topic of the interview or the NCTE policies, please don’t accept the interview.
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Please contact Millie Davis or Lori Bianchini, NCTE Communications Division, for assistance with your questions about speaking with the media or with legislators: public_info@ncte.org; 217-278-3634 (Millie) or 217-278-3644 (Lori).