Top tips for appearing on air
From timing and logistics to rehearsing and what to wear, broadcaster Halla Mohieddeen shares her expert advice about appearing on TV.
We all want to see more women on air, but women are fiendishly difficult to book. Why?
Women tend to require more notice than men and are more reluctant to put themselves forward. Broadcasters are eager to redress the gender balance, and will often propose solutions to enable a female contributor to come on …
But it’s also up to us to make the effort.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET THE CALL
DON’T say no. Try and find a way to say yes. If you keep saying no, we’ll stop calling.
Broadcasters WILL try and find a way to get you on (pre-recording a segment for example). Maybe you can’t go in at 10:45pm (understandable), but instead of saying no, try: I can’t do that late, but I CAN do 6pm etc…
DON’T feel under-qualified. If you’re not qualified you wouldn’t have been approached in the first place. Women have an annoying habit of feeling “not good enough” – and refusing to accept that they’re indeed “experts”, or have valid opinions on a subject. Men, however, are a lot more comfortable saying yes, then winging it. It’s time to start acting more like men, and ignore the voice of doubt in your head that says “you know nothing”. You DO know a lot, and your opinions are just as valid as anyone else’s.
DO ask questions and set pre-interview boundaries. You’re ALLOWED to ask what the scope of the interview or discussion is. You’re also allowed to ask who the other guests are, and what the show is looking for (do they want you to put across a certain point of view in a debate, or represent a specific group of people?).
The researcher who calls you will go through a series of sample questions with you – think of it as a practice run. If there’s anything you’re uncomfortable answering, you’re allowed to say so. If that happens, trying saying this: “I don’t feel confident speaking on that … but I CAN tell you about this aspect instead”
You’re also allowed to (and should) ask logistical questions. For example:
What time do you want me there?
Which studio will I be going to?
Who is the interviewer?
Will you arrange transport?
What time should I be there?
Who should I ask for at the reception?
Will I need makeup, is there someone on hand to do that?
Will I get paid for this and if so how much? (some international outlets won’t pay contributors, most UK ones will – which is why they get live guests on at 11pm).
These questions will help you feel more relaxed and confident. If you’re not worrying about getting to a random studio in the middle of the night, you’re more able to focus on what you’re going to say.
Once you’ve got this out the way, it’s time to …
PREPARE
Preparation is essential. Not because anyone’s trying to catch you off guard and make you look stupid – but because if you’re well prepared, you will be relaxed and confident, and that comes across on TV. When people are nervous, it makes for uncomfortable viewing. A large chunk of the presenter/interviewer’s job is often trying to make people relaxed, and reassuring them ahead of the interview. (Obviously this doesn’t apply if you’re a Cabinet minister or similar, but they tend to be trained in the dark arts of evasion, so get entirely different treatment.)
The first bit of preparation happens during your phone call with the researcher. You should use this time to figure out:
Who is the audience
What is the subject, and what kind of questions will be asked
What message you want to convey
How long the interview is (important!)
What the format is (live/pre-recorded, studio/down the line, one on one/multi-guest panel)
Who else is involved and what they’re likely to say
How will it be used (a clip in a package, a feature, a live studio debate, for social media?)
The next step is to work on your message.
Try and identify the key points you want to get across and write them down.
Be prepared for any obvious questions. Try and imagine what an absolute novice would ask you about your specific subject, then plan an answer.
Anticipate any difficult questions and work out how you would answer them. Chances are you won’t be hit with anything you don’t know, but it’s better to be prepared.
Prepare what you would say if blindsided by something (eg “I can’t say for sure, but what I CAN tell you is …” then pivot to an area you’re comfortable in)
Remember that time is very limited in television. Don’t give one word answers, but the shorter, and more direct your points the better.
ALSO, there’s a real chance the segment may get cut down. With this is mind, try and plan your answers so that if you only have 30 seconds instead of the planned 5 minutes, you’ll have made your most important point, right at the start.
If there is only one piece of information you want to convey, make sure that it is at the very top of your answer. You can then expand afterwards. But go into every broadcast interview with the very real possibility that the time could be dramatically reduced at last minute.
Once you are clear on your message, and format you can start to
PRACTICE
Don’t feel daft about rehearsing what you’ll say – EVERYONE does it. Even the experienced correspondents you see on the ten o’clock news practice their answers into the camera before they go live (I know, because I see them doing it while we’re testing comms).
Rehearse out loud if you get the chance. Once you hear it out loud, you’ll be able to hear for yourself what you’re repeating.
DON’T be put off by how your voice sounds – all our voices sound different, and you are always your worst critic. What you think sounds daft, others think sounds normal, so don’t stress.
The most important thing is to practice what you plan to say, and feel comfortable doing so.
PRESENTATION
The final preparation step, is to select what you’re going to wear. Presentation is key – not because you need to look like a supermodel, but because you need to feel COMFORTABLE.
Newsreaders dress to look smart but unremarkable. If viewers are focused the anchor’s fab jewellery, or snazzy shirt, they won’t notice what is coming out of his or her mouth.
Similarly, it’s important that what you wear doesn’t distract from what you’re saying. Dress appropriately. Some tips:
Wear a smart top/t-shirt and jacket, or a shift dress and jacket. Or even a top with a stiff cardigan. Essentially, wear a jacket or cardigan – they’re easy to clip a microphone onto.
Try and avoid anything that requires you to feed a microphone up a top: ie dress with no jacket, long-sleeved jumper. Sound engineers CAN mic you up, but it’s fiddly and involves feeding cables up clothing, and potentially touching bare skin, which can make some people (male sound engineers included) uncomfortable.
No patterns or close stripes: these are very distracting and can cause a “strobing” effect on TV. Block colours work best.
Try and avoid black and white, unless the country is in mourning. It looks very stark. Greys, creams, pastel colours or primary colours are safe choices.
Be very careful with short skirts, if you’re going to be seated where your legs are visible. It can be distracting for viewers, but more importantly, there’s nothing worse than seeing someone try and tug their skirt down on television.
Similarly, try and avoid anything too low cut.
Be careful with silky fabrics. Silky shirts that aren’t very sturdy are difficult to clip microphones onto (bring a jacket!)
Don’t wear scarves or massive jewellery. They can be distracting, but more importantly, they can interfere with the clip-on microphones.
The overall message is to dress conservatively, smartly and in a way that you FEEL COMFORTABLE. The exception to this rule is if you’re a fashion designer, artist, or another profession, which is reflected in your attire.
Keep your hair OFF your face (this is something a lot of reporters would do well to remember too). Hair that falls onto your face is distracting for both you and the viewers. Ask if there will be someone to look after hair and makeup, but assume there won’t be. Even if there is, make sure your hair is clean and presentable. Either tie it back, or style it so it’s out of your face.
If there is a makeup artist available, great! But bear in mind that you won’t get a 45-minute beauty session. Time, in television, is limited, so most likely you’ll get a quick 5-minute touch up. Make-up is used to counteract the harsh lighting, so you’ll get foundation and powder, perhaps some blusher and a bit of lip gloss.
If you normally wear mascara etc, wear what you normally would, but don’t paint your face as if you were heading out to a club. Absolutely NO GLITTER (unless you are a drag queen or club performer). Again, you’re aiming for what you are comfortable in, and a reasonably conservative look.
Finally, you are not there to look fantastic or like a supermodel. You have been asked to appear as a contributor because of your brains and your opinions. Don’t feel pressure to look amazing – you already do! Try and dress so that you feel comfortable – and aren’t thinking about your clothes.
ON SET
When you arrive at the studio, you should be met by someone (nail down these details when they ask you to take part). They should look after you, and if you have any last-minute questions, ask away. You are allowed to ask questions.
Once you are on set, try and stay calm. Ignore all the lights, cameras and people flitting about. Remember why you’re there: to talk about a certain topic with a presenter and/or other panellists.
Try and FORGET that you’re on TV – this is incredibly important. Focus on your message, and what you’ve been asked to talk about.
Try and connect with your audience. Use local or real-life examples to illustrate your points.
Steer clear of jargon!
Don’t be intimidated – you have every right to be there, and to be heard. If you don’t know the answer, don’t be afraid to say so and steer the conversation onto more comfortable territory.
Try not to fidget or swing around on your chair. Imagine that you’re just having a normal conversation.
If you’re doing a “Down The Line” interview, this is often more awkward than a studio setting. Just relax, stare straight down the barrel of the camera and pretend that you’re talking to someone. It takes practice, and is normal to be spooked by it.
The key thing to remember, if possible, is to forget you’re on TV.
AFTERWARDS
Some TV stations will have a Green Room, where you can relax afterwards and have a drink or a chat with the journalists who work on the show. This can be a good chance to network and debrief, so make the most of this if you can.
Try and follow-up the next day. A courtesy email to researchers is often appreciated, and keeps you on their radar. Ask if you can have a copy of the show as well.
Wherever possible, you should always watch your performance back. Watch the segment and learn from it. But remember that you will be much more critical of your performance than anyone else will be.
If you have a copy of the show (and you’re allowed to), share it out on social media! Be proud of what you’ve done, shout about it and share it far and wide. The show’s producers will also be chuffed, as you’ll also be promoting their show too.
And keep checking in with your new contacts in television. If a subject comes up in the news that you’re able to talk about, drop them an email and let them know you’re available for interview on the subject.
Broadcast journalists and researchers are often harassed, over-worked and just trying to keep their heads above water. Finding the right guests for a show is notoriously difficult when juggling 16 other things, so they will tend to phone up guests they already know, and those who will be able to say yes (and these are usually men).
If YOU are on their radar, willing and available, they’re much more likely to bring you in – and you could soon become a regular. After all, broadcasters want more diversity and different voices to come on air too!