It's remarkable how many scientists are terrified of interviews. Some just hate the spotlight but many are fearful that they will be misrepresented or set up by a journalist to say something inflammatory to set off a media firestorm where they will be skewered. With very few exceptions, that position actually has very little basis in truth.
To be honest, I can forgive those scientists who are just plain nervous about public speaking, although I always tell them that with a little training and preparation they may actually start to enjoy interviews. I've had a few researchers laugh in my face when I suggested such a thing but after their fourth or fifth interview they often came back saying, "that was fun".
Once you hit the "that was fun" point the biggest concern is that the researchers want media communications types to get them interviews all the time, which is about the nicest concern a media communications manager can have.
But before we get to that point there are some really hard and fast rules about interviews that will give even novice interview subjects a head start and most importantly help them control interviews throughout their career.
To be honest, I can forgive those scientists who are just plain nervous about public speaking, although I always tell them that with a little training and preparation they may actually start to enjoy interviews. I've had a few researchers laugh in my face when I suggested such a thing but after their fourth or fifth interview they often came back saying, "that was fun".
Once you hit the "that was fun" point the biggest concern is that the researchers want media communications types to get them interviews all the time, which is about the nicest concern a media communications manager can have.
But before we get to that point there are some really hard and fast rules about interviews that will give even novice interview subjects a head start and most importantly help them control interviews throughout their career.