The best sales people address a person by name when trying to sell them something.
But if a TV reporter is interviewing you, don’t overdo it. That’s the advice from Michigan TV reporter Shawne Duperon.
“During a live interview, if you keep repeating the reporter or anchor’s name, it can sound and look really weird. Be really careful. Plus, how well do you know that media person? If you’re saying the reporter’s name to look friendly, don’t do it. It won’t feel good to the viewer. We know when you’re just saying the reporter’s name, and we viewers don’t like it.
“One more thing: During a recorded interview, many times the story will be passed on to someone else. They can’t use soundbites that keep referencing another reporter. It just won’t work.
“Bottom line: Stay away from using the reporter’s name while being interviewed.”
Shawne knows her stuff. When we teamed up a few ago and I interviewed her for a CD we recorded called “How to Get on the Local TV News Tomorrow,” she said TV reporters are always looking for sources who can provide timely information and deliver sizzling sound bites.
She also stressed that it’s important to identify the “Queen Bee,” in every TV newsroom—the person who decides what gets on the news and what doesn’t.
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