Will I Know the Questions?

At DMG, we get this question a lot: “Will I know the questions in advance of the interview?”

Our resounding answer? Hardly ever—so don’t count on it. And even if a host or reporter does email questions in advance, that doesn’t mean they’ll stick to them. The conversation can take an unexpected turn at any time.

The best approach is to prepare to control the interview regardless of
the questions. Here’s how:

Prep for the Topic
You’ll know the general topic because you’re being brought on as an expert in that area. That means you should be prepared to answer a range of questions related to your expertise.

But what happens if you get an unexpected question that falls outside your area? Block and bridge with a response like:

“That’s outside my area of expertise, but here’s what I can say about X…”

The key is to stay confident, stick to what you know, and look for opportunities to bring the conversation back to your core message.

Anticipate the Questions
The best way to prepare for questions that may stray from your topic is to know what’s happening in the news that day. Hosts and reporters often connect their interviews to the broader news cycle, so check the news online or turn on the TV so you’re prepared for curveballs.

Even better, pay attention to what the host or reporter has been covering that day or throughout the week. Knowing their recent coverage can give you a better sense of what they may ask—and help you anticipate where the conversation could go.

Again, the goal is to block and bridge back to your topic, and it’s much easier to do that when you can anticipate what you might be asked.

Don’t live in a silo. Know the pulse of the news.