If you are being interviewed by a newspaper, magazine or television reporter, don't make the mistake of thinking you don't have to prepare for the interview. In some cases, if the reporter makes an appointment to meet with you in person, you may have several days to prepare. But a reporter may call when you least expect it and need your comments immediately for a story that will appear in the following day's newspaper, or on that night's TV newscast.

Here is an example of the types of questions you can expect reporters to ask, and tips on how to prepare for them:

Early in the interview, reporters will want most of the basics from you, depending on what the story is about. One of the reasons they do this is that they can pitch you softball questions that you feel more comfortable answering, then ask tougher questions as the interview proceeds. Provide a media kit that offers your one-page professional profile, a history of your company, a simple Q&A sheet listing the most frequently asked questions, or a fact sheet about your organization. You can save the reporter a lot of time. Offer to drop off the media kit at the newspaper office if the reporter is local, or use an overnight delivery service. If you have this information posted at your web site, give the reporter your URL.

To learn more of what to expect for an interview, and how you can best prepare for it, see Special Report #2, "Questions You Can Expect Reporters to Ask During An Interview (Including Nasty, Hostile Ones)"