Being invited to do a broadcast interview can be exciting or terrifying – it certainly needs consideration and planning. Journalists will always tell you they are in a hurry, but don’t let yourself be pushed into it. You can ask the journalist what the interview is about and how it will be used, and you can ask for time to prepare yourself. You can even try to negotiate the conditions under which you appear to improve your chances of positive exposure. So, even if you are agreeable to the interview, ask for some time to collect your thoughts and arrange to call back within 30 minutes.

The following pages go through the various steps you should familiarise yourself with before undertaking an interview.