How to be authentic in a media interview

1. Reflecting your values to show authenticity

When preparing for your media interview, don't just consider how you are going to line up all the facts and points you want to trott out.

Think about framing what you'll say in terms of your values. And by values, I don't mean something your business might print on a mouse mat. 

I'm talking about what you stand for. Maybe that's honesty, integrity, respect or kindness?

How might you express the values you hold in your answers? Ok, For example, you might reply to a question like this:

"I believe in being open and truthful, so let me be straightforward..."

Or you might say,"Out of respect for everyone involved, I think it's important to state..."

Or,"In the spirit of fairness and equality, it's only right to mention..."

See what we are doing here?

We're flagging our values. Now a caveat. I'd say don't overdo it. Don't scroll through every available value or use this in every answer. 

Consider a value YOU HONESTLY have and express in in your voice, explain why it matters and why you hold it dear.

So, that's a suggestion to use your values to appear authentic. Next.

2. Embracing your opinions to become more authentic

They say opinions are like Butts, everyone's got one.

And because of this we're a little reticent about sharing opinions, we don't want to be judged.

But DON'T confuse having an opinion with being opinionated.

Opinions tell people who you are and what you stand for. And if that isn't a shortcut to authenticity, I don't know what is.

In an interview tell people what you think, tell them your opinion AND explain why..

An opinion might be, "I believe social media has a predominantly negative impact on society. It fosters unrealistic expectations and can lead to increased feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, especially among young people."

That's an opinion.

But this is opinionated, "Social media is ruining society completely. It's nothing but a breeding ground for misinformation."

So, opinions matter if you want to be authentic - use them. Warning! Coming across as "opinionated" is unlikely to boost your authenticity!

3. Using stories and examples makes you appear more trustworthy and genuine

Use stories when you are being interviewed or answering a journalist's question. I don't mean once upon a time type stories. I mean real-life examples to illustrate your points. Micro moments or anecdotes work best, keep them short and to the point. They add credibility and relatability. Stories are also visual and SO memorable. 

63% of people remember a story just 5% remember a fact. You probably won't remember that. It's from the book Made to Stick.

How authentic is my anecdote?

Let's try this theory. What can you visualise about my story? Here we go.

I used to read the news on a hit music radio station. One Saturday afternoon a former colleague popped in to see me.

He cheekily asked if he could have a go at reading the news, just for old-time sake.

I said, "Ye why not. I'm fairly sure the boss isn't listening. Just don't use your real name, because you work for the competition these days."

So he took the script into the little studio we read the news from, it's about the size of a broom cupboard. The news jingle fired. He opened his mic fader. The red on-air light illuminated.

And he said, "The headlines At 3 o'clock....I'm erm...er I'mmmm..."

Yep, He'd forgotten to come up with a fake name and in the pressure of the moment couldn't think one up! Ha!

What could you visualise about my story? Which was true by the way! Could you see him sweating and fumbling in the studio?

Stories are powerful, so find SHORT anecdotes and examples to illustrate what you'd like to say. Don't make them up. Try them out on friends and colleagues first to gauge their impact.

So those are my tips on adding authenticity to your media appearance.

Share your values, opinions and examples.

Are you worried about forgetting your name live on air? To get in touch just search marvellous media training or email hello@bitfamous.co.uk