Digital Interviews: Media Training Tips for Creatives
Media training has become an essential tool for professionals, artists, and creatives who need to present themselves on camera. Whether you're doing a Zoom interview, recording a video podcast, or participating in an online event, the stakes are high.
How you appear, how you speak, and how well you convey your message can all make or break your digital presence.
For those working in creative industries like the arts, design, fashion or product innovation, digital interviews can feel limiting. Talking about your work, products, designs, or environments without having them physically present often fails to showcase the full impact of your process.
That’s where the right media training comes in.
Here are key media training tips tailored to creatives to ensure you're prepared for your next digital interview or distance media engagement.
1. Creatives and the Challenge of Digital Interviews
For many creatives, digital interviews present unique challenges. Explaining your work or your creative process can feel flat or uninspired without the ability to bring it to life with physical samples or a rich environment.
Here’s how you can make digital interviews work in your favour:
Use Visual Props: Always have something to show, even if it’s not a full product showcase. Whether it's a piece of art, a prototype, or a finished product, visual aids help bring your words to life. These visuals also provide jumping-off points for the conversation, keeping things engaging and dynamic.
Share Your Screen: If your product or work is digital (like graphic design, fashion sketches, or branding materials), don’t hesitate to share your screen and show mood boards, design mock-ups, or inspiration boards. This makes your conversation more interactive and visually engaging, which is crucial in digital interviews.
Objects as Conversation Starters: Even if the product or artwork isn’t the centrepiece of the conversation, having it present on-screen gives your audience something tangible to connect with and can steer the conversation naturally toward your work.
This approach is essential for maintaining control of the conversation and ensuring your work gets the attention it deserves. At Media Training for Creatives, we help you master the art of using these visual aids effectively, something we focus on in our media training courses in London and workshops.
2. Nail Your Lighting and Camera Angle
Since lockdown working digitally is the norm, so there is no excuse for poor camera positioning, bad lighting or distracting backgrounds. Here's how to avoid that…
Elevate Your Camera: Do not peer down into your laptop camera. Raise your device to eye level to avoid unflattering angles. You want to look engaged, not distracted.
Lighting Matters: A ring light or natural light from a window can vastly improve your on-screen appearance. Bright, even lighting prevents shadows from falling on your face.
Clean Background: A tidy backdrop, showcasing part of your home - an interesting bookshelf, art or plants - makes for an inspiring and interesting setting.
3. Be Prepared with Key Messages
In any interview, especially as a creative, you want to make sure your main points come across clearly. The best way to achieve this is to know your three key messages.
Keep Them Simple: Your key messages should be simple enough that you can talk through them fluently without stumbling.
Make Them Memorable: These are the core points that you want your audience to take away, have interesting anecdotes or facts to support each point.
Be Flexible: Your messages should be adaptable to different questions or directions that the interview may take.
Alongside your key messages, you should also be prepared for tricky areas. Whether it’s a difficult question about your brand or something off-topic, having a plan in place is crucial. You can handle tricky topics by:
Pivoting: Steer the conversation back toward your main points in a natural way.
Using an Official Line: Stick to a pre-prepared official response if the topic is sensitive and you’re not at liberty to expand.
Deferring: If the question is outside your expertise, direct the interviewer to someone else who can better answer it.
Mastering these elements helps you stay in control of the interview and ensures you leave a lasting impression. We practice these media training techniques in our tailored workshops to help creatives shine in any interview scenario.
4. Manage the Interview Setting
Before your interview, confirm who will be on the call. Too many PR reps or team members can distract the conversation or overwhelm the interviewer.
In addition to managing your audience, it’s essential to manage your environment. Pick a quiet space, make sure you’re free from distractions, and be clear on whether the interview will be recorded or live, and how that recording will be used. Turn all devices on silent, including your door bell, these elements will lead to a smoother, more polished interview.
5. Know Your Journalist and the News Cycle
Preparation is key. Knowing your own work is important, but knowing the journalist’s work is just as crucial. Before your interview:
Research their previous coverage.
Understand their interests and style.
Check out the latest news cycle to see if there are any relevant talking points.
Being well-prepared allows you to tailor your answers to fit the journalist’s approach, making the conversation more engaging and relevant. We cover this in detail in our media training exercises to ensure you’re never caught off guard.
6. Eye Contact and Body Language Matter
Maintaining good eye contact and strong body language is essential during a digital interview.
Eye Contact: Look directly into the camera to create a connection with your audience. Avoid looking at your own image or down at your notes too frequently, as this can break engagement.
Body Language: Sit up straight, keep your hands calm, and avoid fidgeting. Your confidence will translate through the screen.
If public speaking makes you nervous, working with media trainers can be invaluable. Our media training public speaking sessions are designed to help you develop confidence and poise in front of the camera.
7. Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to improve your digital interview skills is through practice. Work with professionals or participate in a media training workshop to hone your skills. Practicing under the guidance of a seasoned media trainer allows you to receive feedback and adjust before the real thing.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you're looking for personalised coaching or want to refine your digital interview skills, our Media Training for Creatives services are designed to help you succeed. From comprehensive media training courses in London to one-on-one media training exercises, we can help you present yourself with confidence and clarity.
By following these media training tips, you'll be prepared to handle any digital or distance interview with ease and professionalism. Remember, practice makes perfect, and seeking out professional guidance from media training companies can make all the difference.
