Here are some tips on when it’s appropriate to ask a journalist what they will ask you during a live interview and how to prepare accordingly.

 

Why journalists rarely reveal their questions.

As journalists, we often cover stories about politicians or in which people are under intense scrutiny. That’s why when interviewing someone, we ask tough questions and try to dig deep in order to get all the facts.

So, journalists don't often reveal what questions we’re going to ask ahead of time. It’s common practice for most journalists.

If people knew exactly what would be asked of them, they could prepare canned responses. Since honesty and truth are incredibly important during an interview, pre-prepared responses from politicians or those under scrutiny are frowned upon.

Finally, prepared answers that are recited from memory usually also lack emotion and sincerity. Journalists will almost always prefer you are real and candid with your responses instead of reciting something you remembered verbatim. 

 

So, how do you know what to expect?

When you’re about to appear on live television, podcast or radio, it can be nerve-wracking.

So, start by preparing with some of the most basic questions people might have about your industry. You can also ask the journalist what topics they expect to cover, this will give you an idea of where the interview might go and what kind of questioning you can expect.

Finally, if you are a subject matter expert and not a politician or public figure under scrutiny it might be ok to ask a journalist if they are willing to share some of the questions with you. Some might oblige and this could help you feel more prepared for the interview.  

 

To learn more about interview etiquette, check out this blog post, or book a media coaching session through our Learning Center.