A speaker is in the middle of delivering a key message during a television interview or news conference when a reporter interrupts him/her with another question. You have probably seen this a thousand times. And, in many cases, you’ve watched the speaker get sidetracked by the interruption and never get back to their key message.
By allowing the interruption, the speaker gives control of the interview to the reporter. This is never a good thing. When speaking to a reporter, your job is to maintain control of the encounter.
New Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson understood that when she was interrupted during a news briefing on the escape of ten jail inmates. Hutson had been asked whether she owed her community an apology for the jailbreak. During her answer, reporters tried to interrupt her. But as you’ll see in the clip below, the sheriff would have none of it.
We like the way the sheriff stood her ground in the face of reporters aggressively trying to interrupt her. She did so politely and firmly. In the process, Hutson didn’t ignore the question but answered it while remaining in control of the briefing.
When you’re being questioned by a reporter don’t get sidetracked by an interruption. You may choose to say something like, “Let me finish this point first before taking your next question.” Stay calm and in control. If you do, you’ll be well on your way to a successful interview.