The reporter's agenda is to get a good story - yours is to make sure it accurately reflects your opinion. Reporters think in terms of headlines and so should you. Forget what you learned in school about building your case by stating supporting detail before you draw a conclusion. In a news interview, state the most important thing first then back it up with explanation. Broadcast and cable reporters appreciate a concise sound bite of 10-15 seconds in length.
Stories are much shorter on the Internet.
Keeping the interview under control. The best way to exert some control over the outcome of your media interview is to keep the questioning on track. If a reporter starts to wander into areas you don't want to talk about, you can use these control techniques to help you refocus the interview. You answer the reporter's question briefly, then emphasize the key points you want to get across. We don't have a final restructuring plan, but our employees will be offered generous severance packages and attractive early retirement plans.