Doing your Homework

Before going into an interview it is important to know what you are about to do and what your plan may during them. Below are some ways that you can achieve a successful interview:

• Map out what media exist in your community, province, country or region that your organization should be aware of. Use main headings like:
  • Newspapers (daily, weekly): Which are they? Who owns what? What focus does each have? Who is their readership? What kinds of stories do they run? Do they have special sections? How do they relate to your companies issues? Which programs might be interested in your work?
  • Radio stations: Which stations are there? Who owns what? What is each one’s main orientation and focus? Who are their listeners? How do they relate to your companies issues? Which programs might be interesting in your work?
  • Television stations: Which stations are there? Who owns them? What kind of stations are they? How do they relate to your companies issues? Which programs might take an interest in your work?
• Identify which media your company may need to relate to.
• Understand the editorial policies of those newspapers, radio and television stations. You may not agree with them but this helps you to strategize on how to handle the media.
• Read up on ownership and control of the media in your region, province and country – and the world, if necessary.
• Read business and media sections of newspapers, conference papers, media company annual reports, look for sites on the Internet, using a good search engine.
• Talk with media owners, editors and journalists.
• Talk with non-governmental companies that deal with freedom of expression and media monitoring.
• Visit web sites of companies that deal with freedom of expression and media monitoring.
• Talk with people who are involved in public relations.