Media relations has many vital steps to seeing a story aired or published. Now that you’ve done the legwork of getting a reporter interested in your story, you can shift your focus to preparing for the interview and knowing what you want to say and how to say it.
Knowing what message you want to share is a key piece of preparing for an interview since you likely won’t know what questions the reporter will be asking ahead of time. When you know your message — and focus on getting it across in your first couple of answers — the interview will flow seamlessly, regardless of what you’re asked.
We recommend bridging statements as a tool to bridge the gap between the question you are asked and the message you are trying to convey. While you should always address an interviewer’s question directly, bridging statements provide added control over your answers. Used tactfully, they can be an effective way to both answer an interviewer’s question and communicate your key message. They also help provide additional context and prevent you from falling back to the dreaded “no comment” response.
Here are a few examples of bridging statements that you can rely on in your next interview:
- I don’t know the exact details. However, what I can say is…
- It would be more accurate to say…
- I don’t want to speculate. What I can share is…
- What matters most in this situation is…
- Before I answer that, it’s worth mentioning that…
- I would also add that…
While bridging statements are powerful tools, it is equally important to be authentic during an interview in order to build trust with the reporter and audience. Be honest, be yourself and know the key message you want to share with the reporter and their readers or viewers. Balancing the use of bridging statements with honesty and openness will create a stronger connection with the interviewer, hopefully leading to a more compelling story.
Media relations can be intimidating — and that’s why we are here to help. From sharing your story and contacting reporters to preparing for an interview, Barefoot PR is here to support you every step of the way. Learn more about our media relations support and other services.
Written by Gail Bransteitter, Director of PR at Barefoot PR