Whether you speak to the media on your own or as part of a Texas Watch press conference, sharing your story with the media is a very effective way to make the public and decision-makers aware of consumer problems and potential solutions. It can be intimidating to speak to a reporter or into a camera for the first time, but with preparation you can be very effective. If you’re nervous about speaking to the media and would like some assistance in preparing, please don’t hesitate to contact Texas Watch and we can help you.

• Simply tell your story. You do not have to be an expert or present scholarly analyses. You are already an expert on your story, which is what the media wants to hear. Stick to the main events of your story and exclude details.
• Prepare. Have an outline or your full speech written before you speak with reporters. Even the most seasoned speakers can get nervous and forget their train of thought once the tape or camera is rolling, but an outline can help bring you back to your points easily and quickly.
• Practice. Always practice your speech beforehand. Be aware of your tone, speed and length of speech.
• Be concise. A speech at a press conference should take 5 minutes or less. Television coverage will show ten to thirty seconds of your presentation. Newspaper reports will present one to two sentence quotes. Don’t worry about nitty-gritty details. If reporters want further clarification, they’ll ask.
• Give a sound bite. Have one or two sentences that sum up your main point memorized. Look straight into the camera and deliver your sound bite sentence at the beginning and end of your speech to increase the chance that this quote will be aired or printed.