Dealing with the media
There are three types of media:
- Written media (among which the internet)
- Auditory media
- Visual media
The RTBF, the only national french-speaking public media. The PDF document which contains the RTBF agenda of 2011 (fr)
How to hold a mic?
Absurd question? Not so sure, when we see a good number of people in politics, sports, even journalists who hold the microphone wrongly. A microphone can have multiple directions from where it records sound (unidirectional, bi, etc.). So let's assume that it works basically via an imaginary straight line that starts from the top of the microphone. It must therefore be directed towards the mouth. The microphone stands at an "ampan" of the mouth, that is to say at a hand distance (see illustration), to avoid labial bass (sounds in P or B) that go wrong. Do not forget that we have a microphone to answer and therefore should not to move our hands about too much. A wired microphone can also record wire-related interference. To avoid these (only in case of recording), simply make a loop with the thread around the hand. Last remark: a journalist who gives you the microphone is a bad journalist. He (or the sound engineer) must normally take care of the position and the holding of the audio material (except lapel microphone).
Request for an interview
In general, an interview is never done live and a preparation is always possible before answering the questions of the journalist, except during reporting in full event (press conference, event ...). Even for the radio, when recording over the phone, it is possible to request a later call to collect data and prepare. It is even essential for a television passage since the journalist can hardly erase or modify your stutters and possible errors like in writing or radio. Television journalism in general is especially fond of this kind of wanderings from subjects. As the processing of the interview is usually done afterwards, do not hesitate to resume, to repeat your answer to be clearer (it works also in radio in case of recordings) or to request more information in case of vague question.
How to hold yourself?
En cas d'intervention filmée, l'image renvoyée est tout autant importante que les propos tenus. Evitez de croiser les bras ou de mettre vos mains sur les hanches, signes de fermeture. Restez bien droit, en regardant votre interlocuteur entre les yeux ou au niveau du front (pour ne pas faire bouger votre regard de gauche à droite). Pour rester droit, il suffit de se maintenir sur le bord d'un siège afin de vous forcer à ne pas vous laisser aller. N'hésitez pas à imiter votre interlocuteur, s'il pose les poings sur la table ou s'il se détend. Gardez vos mains au-dessus de la table, effectuez des gestes sans tomber dans la caricature italienne, afin d'appuyer vos propos visuellement (sans faire de doigt d'honneur comme une certaine Laurette).
Les boissons
Remarque générale, ne buvez que lorsque ce n'est pas votre tour. Si l'on vous sert de l'alcool, ne l'exposez pas et évitez d'en boire face caméra ou appareil photo. Papa est parti, pas besoin de le remplacer. Même remarque sur le tabac ou toute autre drogue (chocolat compris).
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Texte initialement rédigé par Cédric Dautinger