The Mayfair Media blog offers practical media training advice, interview insights and on-camera guidance for executives, journalists and communications professionals. Drawing on decades of newsroom experience, our articles explain how the media really works - and how to perform confidently when it matters most.
What Journalists Hate in Interviews (and How to Avoid Annoying Them)
Sarah Forster Feb 28If you want to be invited back for media interviews, whether TV, radio or print, understanding what journalists actually need from you is critical.
After years working inside major newsrooms, one thing is clear: most poor interviews don’t fail because the guest lacks expertise. They fail because the guest makes the journalist’s job harder.
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Top Mistakes News Guests Make on TV (and Why Producers Don’t Invite Them Back)
Sarah Forster Feb 24Appearing as a guest on television can be a powerful way to build credibility, grow your profile and reach a wider audience.
But after years working in broadcast news at some of the world’s largest networks, we have seen the same pattern repeat itself: many experts don’t get rebooked, not because of what they know, but because of how they behave on and off camera.
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The death of the newsroom, the rise of the 'storyteller'
Greg Tanner Dec 22Storytelling hasn’t lost its value. It has simply changed its employer.
Companies understand that audiences are sceptical and distracted - and to cut through, they need editorial judgement, not just flashy drone shots and motion graphics.
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What to do when a journalist won’t send you questions ahead of an interview...
Sarah Forster Dec 16First, don’t panic, and certainly don’t push for them.
Instead, shift your preparation and ask for the topic areas, not the questions. They will happily give you these so that you can have any facts and figures fresh in your mind.
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Making the wrong impression
Sarah Forster Dec 8A viral clip which is still, weeks later, doing the rounds on social media has really underlined the fact that "media appearances are never just media appearances."
Palantir chief Alex Karp’s appearance at the DealBook Summit is a powerful example of how a media moment can take on a life of its own.
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Media training during a recession
Sarah Forster Dec 8Are we on the brink of a slump? Current consumer sentiment is concerning, with high debt levels and persistent inflation meaning companies might be forced to reduce spending (if they haven't already started).
The truth is, they usually cut back on the wrong things. Like advertising and... you guessed it... media training.
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