When You Are On TV

06/03/2003

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” -John Burrough

WHEN YOU ARE ON TV

The next time you're going to be on TV, remember Maggie Bedrosian's "Rule of Fives" as presented in the July 1987 issue of Child Care Information Exchange:

* Be Fast. Viewers are accustomed to succinct messages; keep your comments short and clear. Limit each answer to 45 seconds
.
* Involve Your Audience or Interviewer. Communicate the impact your topic has on their lives.

* Be Visual. In addition to slides and transparencies, use instant visuals such as gestures, body language, and word pictures that listeners can see.

* Be Elementary in Your Explanations. Remember your elderly aunt in Kansas or sixth grade cousin in Tennessee. Focus on someone and target your answers to this person, who may not have your background. Avoid jargon.

* Remember that the Editors Will Be Selective in choosing which portion of the interview they will use. State your main point or two concisely. Repeat it with appropriate frequency.

For more ideas on marketing and public relations by Julie Wassom, go to the Exchange Article Archives at https://secure.ccie.com/catalog/cciecatalog.php?cPath=50 and in the search tool type in the key word: Wassom.

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