By Jennifer Miller, Rockford Gray Managing Partner
In television news there is a phrase correspondents hear before almost every live shot, “Look good. Sound good.”
It has nothing to do with their appearance. It is all about the signal. Before 2020, this was the work of the videographer, sound tech, or satellite truck operator. In other words, people the network was paying. That’s changed, according to our informal survey of journalists.
“In the wake of COVID, remote interviews have become almost standard … and acceptable for daily news gathering,” says Jeremy Jojola, an investigative reporter at 9News KUSA in Denver.
CBS News’ Tim Wieland, the regional president and general manager in Los Angeles and Colorado, agrees. Wieland says about 10% of their daily interviews are remote, but that he is “surprised by the quality of what we see after several years of remote meetings and interviews.” He points out poor lighting, muddy audio, uneven framing, a distracting background and poorly dressed interview subjects as part of the problem.
Here are a few remote interview tips to help ensure you are camera-ready and that your next remote interview portrays your expertise as an executive.
Executives need to look the part. It is your professional brand.
The success of your remote interviews and your online media presence are determined by two things:
- How you look and sound.
- What you say.
Look Good. Sound Good.
The tech setup for a video interview preparation is more key and might take some time. We suggest setting up your “studio” ahead of time, testing it in advance of the interview and logging into the interview as scheduled.
- Think of it this way. Your computer from which you do a remote interview is your studio. Keep your computer and software are up to date, as in checking it several times a week.
- Even if you have a strong Wi-Fi signal, it is best to hardwire your computer to your online source. This can make a huge difference in signal quality.
- Lights. Not only does good lighting make you look better, it also makes you look more professional. Avoid having more light behind you than in front of you (being “backlit”). If your office has a window, you might need a light or reflector to balance the light on your face.
- Make virtual eye contact by looking at the camera. When doing an in-person interview, we tell clients to look at the reporter who asked you the question. This is NOT the case in a remote interview. Instead, look at the camera. My camera is at the top center of my computer. When we do remote sessions, we reduce the speaker’s image into a small box that we then position just below the camera. This way we can see my audience’s reaction, while also appearing to look at them, not at my screen.
- Avoid using two computers. If you must, look at the camera that is looking at you.
- The camera should be at eye level. This is huge – hence we bolded it. See the image below. The person on the computer screen is properly framed and the camera is at eye-level. Notice, however that the person looking at the monitor is not properly framed, their computer camera is not at eye-level thus creating an unflattering image that looks up their nostrils.
- The same goes for camera lenses that are too high, making you look like you are in a hole. Your image should be centered on the computer screen with about a forehead’s worth of space above the top of your head.
- Use a real microphone. Although most new computers have decent microphones, if you really want to sound good purchase a microphone that plugs into your computer and provides clear, quality sound. Some reporters may ask you to record audio onto your phone and then email the audio recording to the reporter after the interview. This is an old radio trick, as the digital recording often provides better quality than the phone line.
- Put away the headphones. We want you to look like an executive, not a gamer.
- Jojola suggests you test your video and audio with someone you trust before clicking the link to the official interview.
Consider your background
What does the artwork, book collection or messy bed say to your audience? Even in most hotel rooms you can change the angle or position of your computer/camera to avoid having an unmade bed or the open bathroom door in the background. It’s simply not the look you want.
For a professional look, backgrounds should be clean and simple, but not stark. Provide depth by having space between you and the wall behind you. Sit too close to the wall and the shot looks more like a mug shot than a proper interview.
Body language
Be natural. Most people are hand talkers and that’s a good thing. Using your hands helps your brain process what you are trying to say. Keep your hands on the desk where you can gesture naturally, but quietly. Don’t drop your hands onto your desk, slap your thighs, twirl a pen or wear bracelets that will cling through the microphone.
Look the part
Dress like a professional. Simple patterns and neat hair. Avoid noisy jewelry and wrinkled clothing. If you wear a jacket, consider pulling it down in back and sitting on it so the collar doesn’t bunch up around your neck.
Sit up straight and use your muscles to be square with the camera.
We like to say, “Look like you smell good.”
Remote interviews are quick, easy and affordable. But they don’t have to look cheap. As the executive, consider it part of your personal brand management to ensure you “look good, sound good.”
Want to know more? Rockford Gray specializes in executive media coaching, large-group media training, crisis training, presentation skills coaching and issues or crisis management consulting. Get in touch with us.
About the author: Jennifer Miller is a seasoned media trainer and public speaking coach with over 15 years of journalism experience, including seven at CBS News. Known for her disarming style and tough questions, she reported on major events like the Olympics, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina. Her firsthand understanding of how reporters think makes her an exceptional crisis management counselor. At Rockford Gray, she coaches clients on media, presentation, and crisis response. Jennifer holds a master’s in Organizational Leadership from the University of Denver and a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota. She is certified in crisis communication and DEI in the Workplace and is a sought-after speaker.