What should I do if What should I do if journalists ask to interview journalists ask to interview

me ?me ?

‘Back to school’ training programme

30 September 2010

Dennis AbbottSpokesperson for Education, Culture, Multilingualism

and Youth

So, you’ve So, you’ve been asked been asked

for an for an interview…interview…

Don’t be Don’t be afraid!afraid!

EncouragedEncouraged

Helps get our Helps get our message message acrossacross

UsuallyUsually‘off-the-‘off-the-record’record’

……but oftenbut often‘on-the-‘on-the-record’record’for B2Sfor B2S

Before you go ‘back to school’

•Try to set up Try to set up interviewsinterviews

•Speak to local Speak to local COMRep Press COMRep Press Officer…Officer…

•……or Europe Direct or Europe Direct CentreCentre

•Speak to the schoolSpeak to the school

The big day…The big day…

Prepare three Prepare three main main

messagesmessages

Use examplesUse examples

What has the EU achieved What has the EU achieved in the region?in the region?

Ask for the Ask for the questions in questions in

advanceadvance

Is the interview Is the interview ‘live’?‘live’?

Check your Check your appearanceappearance

!!

Think about the Think about the backdropbackdrop

During the During the interviewinterview

Be shortBe short

For TV = 15 For TV = 15 secondsseconds

For written media = 30 For written media = 30 secondsseconds

Speak slowly Speak slowly and calmly!and calmly!

Avoid jargonAvoid jargon

Would an 11-year-old understand you?

Look at the Look at the interviewer, not the interviewer, not the

cameracamera

Get Get your your points acrosspoints across

OK to answer OK to answer questions questions about:about:

yourselfyourselfB2SB2SCommission’s Commission’s workwork

Why EU Why EU mattersmatters

Avoid questions Avoid questions about:about:

National politicsNational politics

Sensitive Sensitive political issuespolitical issues

Detailed policy Detailed policy questions questions outside your outside your knowledgeknowledge

What not to What not to say…say…

…about the economic crisis, for example

A better way A better way would be…would be…

What if you’re asked What if you’re asked about something about something

outside your outside your competence?competence?

Don’t panic!Don’t panic!Be diplomatic.“Thanks for the

question…”

Never sayNever say‘No comment’‘No comment’

"I am here to talk to young people about my work and

why Europe matters to them. But we have experts

on the question you ask and I can put you in touch with

them."

“That’s a national matter.”

When it’s all When it’s all over…over…

Did journalists get Did journalists get what they what they needed?needed?

Anything you Anything you missed?missed?

Offer to check Offer to check facts/quotesfacts/quotes

Give them your contact Give them your contact details!details!

Don’t be afraidDon’t be afraid

Things to do before you go back to schoolThings to do before you go back to school

Preparing for the interviewPreparing for the interview

Things to be aware of during the interviewThings to be aware of during the interview

What you can say, and what you should avoidWhat you can say, and what you should avoid

Things to do at the end of the interviewThings to do at the end of the interview

What have I been talking What have I been talking about?about?

Thanks for your Thanks for your attentionattention

Dennis AbbottDennis Abbott

5925859258European CommissionEuropean CommissionSpokesperson for Education, Culture, Multlingualism Spokesperson for Education, Culture, Multlingualism & Youth& Youth