Can I read answers from a prompter in a media interview?

Not word for word. Use it for three key messages and any facts or figures you must get right, then speak naturally.

How many key messages should I prepare?

Three. More than that is hard to remember and hard for the audience to take in.

What should I do if I do not know the answer?

Say so briefly, offer to follow up, and bridge back to what you can speak to. Never guess on the record.

How to Prepare for a Video Media Interview

Remote TV, podcast and press interviews happen over video now. How to prepare key messages, set up your camera and room, and answer questions without sounding rehearsed.

Many media interviews now happen remotely: a news segment over a video link, a podcast recorded on a call, a journalist interviewing you on a video platform. You get the chance to prepare in your own space, and you also become your own camera operator, lighting technician and sound engineer.

Know the format

Before you prepare, ask:

Live or recorded? Live gives no second chances.
How long? A news segment might be three minutes; a podcast an hour.
Who else is on? Another guest may disagree with you.
What platform? Test it in advance.

Prepare three key messages

Decide on three things you want the audience to remember. Write each as one or two plain sentences, with one fact or example to support it.

Message: Most small clinics lose money to missed appointments.

Proof: Our clients typically see no-shows fall by about a third after adding reminders.

Everything you say should support one of these. If a question goes elsewhere, answer briefly and bridge back: "That is a fair point, and what we see on the ground is..."

Get facts and figures exactly right

Write down every number, date and name you might mention, and check each one. A wrong figure on the record is hard to correct. Keep this sheet beside the camera.

Use notes, not a script

Reading answers word for word sounds stiff and can be obvious to interviewers. Put your three messages and key facts on a prompter or card near the lens, and speak around them. Our guide to teleprompter vs cue cards explains when each works best.

Set up like a broadcaster

Camera at eye level, framed from mid-chest up. See camera height and framing.
Light in front of you, never a window behind.
A tidy, simple background, with nothing that could become the story.
Headphones, to avoid echo for the interviewer.
Do Not Disturb on every device.

Rehearse the hard questions

List the three questions you would least like to be asked. Practise short, honest answers to each. Interviewers often ask exactly those, and rehearsing them is what keeps you calm.

During the interview

Pause before answering. A second of thought looks considered.
Keep answers short, especially on news formats.
Look at the camera, not the screen, when you make your main points.
Stay on the record until the call has fully ended.

After the interview

Send any promised follow-up information quickly, and note what worked for next time. For broader advice on presenting yourself on video calls, see video interview tips for remote interviews.