Never has media training been more relevant, or in-demand. Confidently deliver a key message, even in crisis conditions, and represent yourself or your organization using this unique collection of models and techniques. Featuring insightful anecdotes of interviews from the likes of George W. Bush, HRH Prince Philip, and more, this is a must-read for any PR executive, press officer or communications professional. Any individual preparing for an interview with the media, however practised or well-rehearsed they are, worries about failing to convey the essential points, or encountering that awkward question in the glare of public scrutiny. As media channels multiply by the day, offering ever more opportunities for exposure, so they also present a growing probability of finding oneself in front of the camera, webcam, or microphone in a make-or-break encounter where every word, gesture or expression counts. Media Interview Techniques is the authoritative guide to giving successful media interviews, combining the author's own unique models and techniques with a survey of published research and influential opinion, to help the reader prepare for any occasion when called upon to represent an organization publicly. Supported throughout with insightful anecdotes and transcripts of good and bad interviews given by George W. Bush, HRH Prince Philip, David Cameron and numerous public figures, this book presents a methodology which has been proven across the spectrum of industry sectors both nationally and internationally. Written for those who speak on behalf of commercial companies, public services, charities, NGOs, or as a subject expert (or for those briefing clients prior to interviews), no communications professional can afford to be without a copy. The book is also supported by online resources, including web links to relevant media interviews for each chapter and high-profile news stories.

Interviewing is a primer for the digital age yet one embracing age-old lessons that make clear the crucial importance of successful interviewing techniques for productive civic engagement.

Interviewing is easy, right? Anyone can do it… but few do it well enough to unlock the benefits and insights that interviewing users and customers can yield. In this new and updated edition of the acclaimed classic Interviewing Users, Steve Portigal quickly and effectively dispels the myth that interviewing is trivial. He shows how research studies and logistics can be used to determine concrete goals for a business and takes the reader on a detailed journey into the specifics of interviewing techniques, best practices, fieldwork, documentation, and how to make sense of uncovered data. Then Steve takes the process even further―showing the methods and details behind asking questions―from the words themselves to the interviewer’s actions and how they influence an interview. There is even a chapter on making sure that information gleaned from the research study is used by the business in such a way to make it impactful and worthwhile. Oh, and for good measure he throws in information about Research Operations. But, hey, that’s just the nuts and bolts of the book. The truly fun part is Steve’s voice and how he portrays this information through amusing anecdotes about his career, fascinating examples from other practitioners, and tips and tricks that only the most experienced UX researchers, like Steve, could come up with. As a nod to the pandemic, he offers ideas for the best way to interview someone remotely, and he also discusses personal bias―how to identify and deal with it so that it doesn’t affect interviews. Everyone will get something from this book. But beyond the requisite information, it’s simply a good read. And if you want another good read with stories galore, pick up Steve’s other book Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries. "Quite simply the best book on when, why, and how you should conduct user interview studies." —Elizabeth F. Churchill, PhD, Senior Director, Google Who Should Read This Book? Anyone and everyone who is interested in finding out what makes their business tick, i.e., who their users are. Anyone and everyone who wants to learn how to interview and listen to people. Anyone and everyone, including CEOs, user researchers, designers, engineers, marketers, product managers, strategists, interviewers, and you. Takeaways User research is key for companies to include in their design and development process. The best way to do user research is through interviewing users and determining their needs. Interviewing can identify what could be designed or what is actually a problem. Teams who meet their users face-to-face will build better products. Field research takes a lot of preparation to be successful―and a solid plan in advance. There are critical techniques and frameworks for mapping human behavior. A good interviewer always puts their participants at ease. If you ask the right questions, you’ll get the right answers. A smart interviewer checks their worldview at the door. To establish a rapport with your interviewee, listen and don’t be judgmental. Research data is a combination of analysis and synthesis. The importance of research analysis must be continually highlighted and emphasized to the powers that be.

A guide to being interviewed, whether on television, radio or by the press. All stages of the process are covered, including handling interview requests and mastering broadcasting techniques. Practical tips are given by media figures, the CBI and PR professionals. Originally published in 1991 by Mercury Business Books.