National newspapers
Newspaper interviews are the least structured of all. They can be conducted face-to-face or down a phone line. They can take the form of a rigid question and answer interview of almost any length or an informal chat. Whatever form they take, the task is still the same– to get your points across.
If it is for a short news item, you will only be able to get in one or two points, so stick to those. If it is a wide-ranging feature, you can afford to be more chatty and conversational around a set number of points you want to get across.
Feature pieces can be more open ended, with the reporter coming to you for information and guidance, not just a quick reaction to a story. This gives you the chance to influence the content and direction of the article. Try to be as helpful as possible, if possible providing the vital facts and figures that form the core of the story, as well as the quotes and comments on it.
Newspapers sometimes want photographs to accompany a story. Bear in mind that if you send in your pictures, it may take some time for them to be returned, and sometimes they will not be returned at all so try and keep a copy for yourself. Remember that not everything you say will appear in print.
A 30-minute interview can appear as just a few lines in a lengthy story. It is important to make sure that the reporter knows which points you believe are the most important.
Watch out for the off-the-cuff quip that you never meant to be taken seriously. A poor reporter could turn this into the main focus of a story, leading to possible misunderstandings.
Read Helen Gilburt's personal experience of being interviewed for the Sun in 2002
