Five mistakes to avoid during a TV interview
Five mistakes to avoid during a TV interview
When a media opportunity arises, excitement mixed with nerves is completely natural. Here’s some reassurance; Journalists want you to succeed just as much as you do. They’re not looking for perfection or praying on your downfall – they’re seeking authentic, compelling conversations that serve their audience.
However, what separates a successful interview from a career-damaging viral moment always comes down to preparation and avoiding predictable mistakes. At Adoni Media, our team of former journalists, newsroom directors and crisis specialists have witnessed thousands of interviews across every scenario imaginable. We’ve worked with everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs to A-list celebrities, , and everyone in between.
Drawing from our extensive experience, we’ve witnessed virtually every mistake a spokesperson can make (and some). But even worse, we’ve seen firsthand how ruining these moments goes far beyond personal embarrassment – it can seriously damage your company’s reputation. So, here’s our list of the top five absolute no-no’s to help you avoid for your next TV interview.
Not knowing your audience
One of the most fundamental yet overlooked mistakes is failing to understand exactly who you’re speaking to. Every media outlet has a distinct audience with specific interests, concerns, and levels of expertise, and treating them all the same is a recipe for disaster.
Your core message should remain consistent, but your delivery must shift dramatically. Oversimplify for sophisticated business viewers and they’ll tune out immediately. Use technical jargon with general audiences and you’ll lose them in the confusion.
Being dressed inappropriately
Your appearance speaks before you even open your mouth. This doesn’t mean defaulting to a corporate uniform but rather dressing intentionally for your message and context. A tech startup founder discussing innovation might wear smart casual attire, while a financial advisor should be more formal.
When in doubt, stick to solid, block colours without busy patterns, cutouts, or anything else that might distract from your key messages. Chunky, noisy jewellery is also a no no. It’s a delicate balance between keeping things simple and showing that you actually care about the opportunity.
Let the nerves get the best of you
Confidence is contagious, and so is its absence. Fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, swaying, or filling silence with “ums” immediately undermines your expertise. Viewers form opinions within seconds, and nervous energy reads as uncertainty – even when you know your subject matter inside out.
Ground your feet, maintain steady eye contact with your interviewer, and treat the conversation as exactly that – an interview with someone genuinely interested in what you have to say. If you don’t feel confident at least ‘fake it till you make it’ (or better yet, get Media Training).
Winging your answers
Nothing derails an interview faster than being caught without a clear response. When pressed to elaborate and you have nothing meaningful to add, panic sets in. Suddenly you’re stammering, deflecting, or worse – making things up on the spot.
While preparation doesn’t mean memorising scripts, it means understanding your key messages so thoroughly that you can discuss them from multiple angles. If you genuinely don’t know something, acknowledge it gracefully and redirect to what you do know.
Disrespecting Journalists time
Arriving late doesn’t just inconvenience the journalist – it sabotages your own performance. Media schedules are notoriously tight, and making a crew wait signals unprofessionalism before you’ve said a word.
Beyond basic professional courtesy, think about your own experience with running late to crucial meetings, missing trains, or oversleeping important alarms. These situations are incredibly stressful and usually leave you operating on adrenaline, making careless mistakes far more likely. Those “did I really just say that?” moments often stem from being frazzled.
The importance of Media Training
While these tips may seem like common sense -our team’s decades’ experience working behind the camera has meant that we see spokespeople making these same “obvious” mistakes over and over again.
Investing in Media Training is to help you, and your team navigate what can feel like an overwhelming experience. There’s a significant gap between understanding what to do and actually executing under pressure with cameras rolling and rapid-fire questions coming at you.
At Adoni Media, we’ve assembled Australia’s most experienced media training team to help you master your next interview and feel completely in control. Our approach goes beyond generic advice – we simulate media environments that prepare you for anything.
Ready to interview with genuine confidence? Connect with our team of PR professionals through the ‘Contact Us’ button below.
