FPRA - Florida Public Relations Association Blog

This discussion was led by Denise Feiber, APR, a Counselors Network and FPRA Gainesville Chapter member. Denise is a past president of the Gainesville Chapter and served on the State FPRA Executive Committee for two years as Communications Director. She currently is Public Information Director for the Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry, where she is required to give interviews both indoors and in the field.

Viewers will decide within 8 seconds if a spokesperson appears credible. In today’s 24-7 news cycle, public relations professionals have to be prepared to answer the media’s call. Whether you are in and out of the field or in a studio, this session provided a few tips from experienced industry pros on how to be prepared for your moment in the spotlight.

A hand-out was distributed with some helpful hints, (click on read more information below for link to downloadable, printable pdf) but here a few items discussed during lunch that are not in the handout:

- just as you try to take control of the time and circumstances for an interview, you also should try and take control of the interview area, as far as the specific location based on lighting, wind, etc. Have a good side? Ask the reporter if you can face in a certain direction, etc.

- it’s always a good idea, for both men and women, to keep a pair of casual shoes, even tennis shoes, in the office, for those unexpected visits to the field. No one expects you to wear $150 dress shoes while you’re climbing dirt piles at the construction site or working in an orange grove.

For a complete list of on-camera tips, Download file here.