Page 10 - FOOTSCRAY LIVE Project - Producers_Neat

10 FOOTSCRAY LIVE - A NEXT GEN FM PROJECT

ORG ANISING GUES T S

Scheduling time during a radio show to interview a guest, either live in the studio or on a phone,
skype, What’s App etc., is an important part of keeping your show interesting and engaging for
your audience.

A guest is generally an expert in their field or a person with an engaging personality who can
insightfully comment on a wide range of issues and topics.

Securing a high profile guest gives a radio show and its presenter’s credibility, and provides a
sense of anticipation for listeners who would like to know more about a subject or event.

High profile expert guests are often in high demand and cannot accept every invitation they
receive to be interviewed in the media, so a producer will need to be resourceful when
identifying the guest they might want for their show, and determining the strategy they will use
to contact and secure them.

WAYS TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE A GUEST FOR A RADIO INTERVIEW

IDENTIFYING A GUEST

A relevant guest may be a person who has recently commented on a topic in the media, been the
subject of an event or a happening that is making news, or a person who is a longstanding expert
in the field that you are addressing on your radio show.

The best way of finding the right guest for your show is to research your show topic on the
Internet and discover which people are commenting in the most interesting and informative way.

WAYS TO CONTACT A GUEST FOR A RADIO INTERVIEW

The best ways of contacting the guest you are targeting, is by phone or email or a mixture of
both. On some occasions you may be able to find a direct email address or phone number for
your guest on the Internet. This is not always the case however, especially if they are high profile
and well known.

If you have not been able to find their direct contact details online, contact the organisation they
represent and ask to speak to the person who is managing the organisation’s media and
communications.

The media and communications manager is the person who is in charge of fielding media
requests for interviews with people who work for their organisation. If they are not available when
you ring, make sure you leave a message describing who you are, who you represent, the reason
you are calling and your best contact number for them to return your call.