Public relations interview questions
Public relations are a crucial aspect of any company, organization, or prominent person. These entities must maintain relationships and contact with the media and the public. A public relations specialist, or publicist, is hired to manage public relations for a company, group, or person and help their client appear in a positive light. It is the publicist's responsibility to acclimatize their client with the media and public, and vice versa. A publicist must manage and strategize successful public relations, perhaps in the form of press releases, press kits, special events, and public participation. A publicist may need to act as a spokesperson for their client, or even act as a mediator between their client and the public.
Occasionally, a publicist must do "damage control". If his or her client received bad publicity, or is caught up in a rumor, scandal, or legal action, a publicist must attempt to salvage the client's reputation. During such instances, the media will want to understand the occurrences and report on them. They may make arrangements for an interview to be conducted with the company's public relations specialist. However, while interviews do frequently occur, they may not always be as a result of a public relations crisis.
An interview with the media can be a positive thing for either the journalist or reporter conducting the interview, and the publicist being interviewed. A member of the media will be allowed the opportunity to obtain information to report on, while the publicist may be allowed to set the record straight, if necessary, or share valuable or positive information about their client.
A public relations interview usually follows a pattern, although it will vary from interviewer to interviewer. A member of the media will usually have a set of standard questions. A publicist should always prepare for an interview in advance and be prepared to answer the media's questions.
How to Answer Questions
A public relations specialist should always understand the points of answering a question well, and practice these tactics in advance:
1. Well before any questions begin, remain calm and collected. During the interview, be patient;
2. Be confident and anticipate difficult questions. Never pick a fight, become arrogant, defensive, or emotional.
3. Take positive control of the interview by publicizing information as well as answering questions. Build bridges with your answers;
4. Answer the questions succinctly and clearly. Do not mumble or speak too quietly. On the other hand, do not speak excessively loud;
5. Do not feel that you must answer a question immediately. If you do not have the answer to the question at that time, say that you will get back to them on it, or will have to check. Never speculate. Answer the question fully only when you know the answer;
6. Only answer a question that you are asked;
7. Use strategies to keep your answers positive and in control:
a. Use analogies;
b. Use examples;
c. Use accurate statistics;
d. Use personal experiences;
e. Use an expert's opinion or quote an expert;
f. Use an anecdote, only if you have prepared to do so;
g. Compare and contrast.
8. Ask for clarification of a question if you do not understand it;
9. When you have answered a question, do not feel the need to continue. Many media personnel will remain silent or nod their heads to encourage you to continue speaking. Resist this prodding, and do not ramble;
10. If a group of media personnel are interviewing you, try not to allow a single person to dominate the session;
11. Be prepared for the interviewer to interrupt you with a question. This is common;
12. Never answer a question or say anything "off the record";
13. Never repeat a negative question or involve a negative question your answer.
The likelihood of upset or mistake during the interview can be avoided or reduced when utilizing such information.
