There is one East Coast media trainer (who shall remain nameless) who states in his internet posts to just say, when asked this question, “No, I think we’ve covered just about everything.” This could not be more wrong and reinforces the importance of actually having worked in media to become a media trainer.

As a reporter, I got a tremendous number of soundbites that I used in my stories from that final question – anything else? As a public affairs officer, the media spokesperson in hundreds of interviews, it was often that “anything else” that aired.

For a standard interview, I teach my clients to always, ALWAYS have a response to this. It can be a simple restatement of your primary communications agenda. It can be something you prepared for but the interviewer did not address. At that point in the interview, you as the interview subject are now a bit more relaxed, and even more rehearsed in phrasing your communications agenda – what it is YOU came to say. Your response is cleaner, more concise, and usually comes across with more confidence and credibility.

Plus, as the reporter is listening to your responses during the entire interview, he is making mental notes of not only what you said – the incue, the outcue, how long it ran – but also how you said it (clean, smooth, without uhms, and ahs). If this is the very last thing you said, and it was succinct and clean, chances are the reporter will think to himself, “That’s pretty good. I can use that soundbite.”

So when the reporter asks, “is there anything else?” merely smile, pause, and say, “I just want to emphasize, (then pause for the edit point), “At Widgets USA we are…”
Then watch what airs – chances are pretty good it’s the last thing you said.

Michael Drake has held every position in a radio and television news operation, has worked in the print media, and has served as the media spokesperson on the other side of the microphone in hundreds of media encounters on local and national media.

Throughout the years, we have worked with government agencies and elected officials, business leaders and corporations, authors and entertainers. All of our training programs are custom-tailored to our clients’ specific needs and issues.

In the coming weeks, we invite you to visit this site frequently to get the latest media and presentation skills training tips : how to develop and deliver an effective media communications agenda. How to develop the road map to your presentation – whether it’s before a group of co-workers or the board of directors, and then grab and maintain their undivided attention throughout.

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As always, we look forward to working with you.