As a member of DiverseCity Voices, journalist will contact you to get your expert opinion.

To feel comfortable in all media situations, you want to be prepared for the interview. In this section you will find links to online resources to help you make the most of your media opportunity.

Remember, it pays to be prepared. When called for comment on your area of expertise, your goal is to become a trusted and credible media resource.

• Talking to the media
• Writing for the media
• Effective Storytelling
• Speakers Bureau

Talking to the Media

• Talking to the Media
  In this Five Good Ideas session, Toronto Star journalist Carol Goar attempts to explain why some of the best initiatives don’t show up on the radar screens of reporters, editors, broadcasters and producers.
• A Reporter’s Mindset
  Some interesting answers to how reporters think, how they work and what to expect when being interviewed.
• What Does a Reporter Want?
  By understanding the limits that journalists’ schedules and formats impose upon them, we can significantly increase the chances that coverage of our issues will be balanced and complete, and of developing rewarding relationships with the journalists we come in contact with.
• A View from the Press Room
  So, what is it that reporters consider news-worthy stories?
• Preparing for Media Interviews
  Five steps to prepare yourself for your next interview, whether it’s for TV, radio or print.
• More tips on Preparing for Media Interviews
  Very detailed tips on how to prepare for your interview.
• TV Interview Techniques
  For TV interviews, whether in-studio or on-location, the format can range from a one-on-one interview, to a multiple guest panel discussion. The following tips will help you before, during, and after the interview.
• Radio Interview Techniques
  If you will be giving an interview for radio broadcast, the following tips can help you prepare for it, and take advantage of radio’s strengths while avoiding its pitfalls.

Writing for the Media

• 5 Tips for Crafting Headline Grabbers
• Introduction to Blogging
  This is a great introduction if you’re thinking about starting your own blog.
• Writing Press Releases
  The Press Release is probably the most common way announce your news. Careful though, journalists may receive hundreds of releases every week – so you have to know how to use this tool properly.
• Writing an Effective Op-Ed
  Op-ed submissions can be an effective way to communicate your research or professional opinions while initiating or adding to an existing debate. Here are some guidelines that are common to most publications.
• Submitting a Commentary
  This is an interesting page that gives you some background on how to write an effective op-ed piece (or commentary) and how to follow up with the publications. As well, you find the contact information of those responsible for the editorial pages in some of the the largest Canadian newspapers.

Effective Storytelling

• Developing & Writing Stories: Some Tips (PDF)
  All of us our writing for different reasons, with a variety of content and for a range of audiences – but regardless, there are some common components and challenges that we all face: making our content interesting, making our readers care about what we’re saying and getting the maximum strategic value from our work.
• Storytelling Power – What Makes a Good Story
  Successful storytellers have a variety of opinions about what makes a good story. Keep in mind that not everyone will love, or even like, our story. Not everyone will love, or even like, us as storytellers. Here’s a brief discussion what the writer believes creates a good story that is strong and that most listeners do enjoy and remember — the true test.
• What Makes a Good Story
  The story should be interesting and relevant to the audience, and it must be written clearly enough that it can be quickly and easily understood.
• The Ten Immutable Laws of Storytelling (PDF)
• How to Find Good Stories (PDF)
• Capturing Ideas: Dos and Don’ts
• Councils told to avoid jargon words: Writing Advice (from The Guardian)

Speakers Bureau

• Academic Retiree Centre (ARC) Speakers Bureau (University of Toronto)
  Comprised of volunteer retired faculty, librarians and senior administrators who are willing to give talks or lead discussions on the myriad subjects on which they have expertise, Speakers Bureau services are available to schools, seniors’ homes, service clubs and other organizations in the GTA community.
• Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC)
  Many PWAC members are also workshop leaders, radio personalities, TV hosts, or speakers in their own right. In addition to presentations on writing and PWAC, they can speak on dozens of other topics.
• Toronto Star Speakers Bureau
  Canada’s largest newspaper has journalists and other employees of the newspaper available to speak at your organization or event, at no charge to you, on a variety of topics related to their areas of expertise.