Select the topic
- you must ensure that the issue you raise, or comment on promotes the best interests of your constituency.
Develop the brief
- what is the topic, what impact does it have on your constituency, what can you say that add value to the communitys overall understanding of the issue.
Review the background
- read available information and take time to understand it.
Develop key messages
- before you make any public statement, establish in your mind what key messages you want your audience to be left with. Generally, you should have no more than three messages.
Practice the interview
- a dummy run can be very useful in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your case and helps you hone the messages.
Tell the truth
- if you are well briefed on the subject you are less likely to get caught out. If you are asked a question you dont have the answer to, say you will endeavour to get that information to the interviewer.
Off the record
means, ostensibly, that the information is for private consumption only - it cannot be used publicly.
Unattributable
means that the information can be used, but not attributed, to its source. Stories are published with such attribution as "senior sources report", "a source close to the Minister says" or "close observers of the company reveal".
Background
information is meant to help the journalist prepare a story, but not meant to be quoted directly.