“investigative” reporters and programs and will decline to  accept  interview  invitations  from  those  sources.  On the other hand, there are some media (mainly trade publications) which will present a copy of the draft interview  article  for  correction  by  the  interviewee. Unfortunately, this practice is rare. Television Interview Tips As covered before, the senior journalist is called upon  to  provide  media  training  to  individuals  scheduled to represent the command in a television interview, Media  training  simply  means  conveying  certain interview  tips  to  the  interviewee  to  make  sure  the interview is a success. This section covers the following television interview tips: appearance, eye wear, eye contact and the use of the interviewer’s first name. APPEARANCE.–  If the interview is in a television studio, have the interviewee wear either the service dress blue or summer white uniform. These are the most recognizable  Navy  uniforms  and  look  best  on  television, If the interviewee is wearing summer whites, make sure he takes a fresh shirt to the studio and changes just before the interview to avoid a wrinkled look. Have the interviewee remove his name tag because they glare or shine  under  television  lighting. After the lavaliere microphone is placed on the tie or shirt, make sure the tie or shirt is straight. The microphone should be inside the coat or blouse so it does not  show.  The  interviewee  should  not  wear  a  large blouse or too many rings, which also shine under the lights  and  distract  the  television  audience.  The  uniform of the day is acceptable if the interview is held aboard a naval unit or facility. Be sure the interviewee uses makeup to help control perspiration and glare. A small amount of makeup is normally applied by television station personnel. Of course, make sure the interviewee has a fresh haircut and is clean shaven (if male). EYEWEAR.– If the interviewee normally wears glasses  but  chooses  not  to  wear  them  during  the interview, make sure he takes them off about 20 minutes before  the  interview.  This  allows  the  eyes  to  adjust  to the set and lights. Makeup may be needed on the nose where  glasses  sit. EYE  CONTACT.–   Most  of  the  time  the  inter- viewee  looks  directly  into  the  camera  when  answering a question. Tell him to look at the  interviewer, not  the camera, during the interview. The obvious exception is the  remote  interview. USE OF FIRST NAME.– If  the  interviewee  knows the interviewer and feels natural using his first name, it is perfectly acceptable. If the interviewee feels a need to be more formal, then he should use the host’s last name. General  Interview  Tips Include  the  following  interview  tips  in  your  media training regimen to get the most out of every interview: l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Relax and be yourself. Tell the truth, even if it is painful. Never say “no comment.” If you cannot discuss something  because  of  an  ongoing  investigation or because it is classified, explain as much as you can.  If  additional  information  is  requested,  make an effort to get back to the reporter. If you do not know the answer to a question, say so. Offer to get back later with the answer, if possible. As in news releases, avoid military or technical jargon. Always remember the target audience- the American public. Answer  questions  directly  and  give  the  bottom line up front. Amplification, if needed, may be given  later. Correct the record. If a reporter makes an error or has wrong information, politely correct him during the interview. Listen carefully to the reporter. Ask for repetition or clarification if necessary. Maintain eye contact. Make sure the reporter knows  you  are  interested  and  paying  attention. Be  expressive  and  try  to  be  interesting. Be humorous, if appropriate. Humor is one of the best  forms  of  communication. Maintain  a  positive  attitude. Be prepared to answer the five W’s: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. Always assume that you are on the air, even if you are told that you are off. Technical crews make  mistakes. Be modest and confident. You are the expert, but do  not  be  condescending. 4-11