5 Tips to Overcome Your Fear of the Media

SHARON SIM • July 20, 2017

Let's face it... few of us are truly comfortable in the spotlight. 


This is especially true when we come face-to-face with the media. When the camera rolls, we put on our most valiant voice, and pray secretly that we're not misquoted, misrepresented, misunderstood, or even ridiculed. Are those knees shaking? Is your heart racing? Fear no more, it's time to quash the nerves and embrace the spotlight!



Here are five tips to overcome your fear of the media:

1. Get Trained, For All the World's a Stage

When you are on stage or in front of a reporter, you have access to an almost limitless audience. This can seem unnerving, but it is your chance to draw the curtains and tell your story to the world. Strengthen your repertoire and ramp up your confidence level with media training. Whether you are a CEO, company executive or manager, media traning can sharpen your communication skills, and dramatically influence your ability to persuade others in a calm and confident manner.


2. Do Your Homework

Good interviews, just like good articles, begin with homework. Do your due diligence and dazzle the reporter with your familiarity of their style, background and story approach. Rely on your PR team to play Sherlock Holmes to secure the information. Your PR team can clue you in with briefing notes to ensure that you and the media emerge winners. They get their story, and so do you.


3. Expect the Expected

You may already know the drill. Reporters ask about revenue, market size, and your competition. Your PR team can probe for advance questions and story angles so that you are prepared with answers and information. Providing key industry trends, as well as statistics and anecdotes will earn you their respect and build your credibility during the interview.


4. Stay on Track

There are times when a reporter's interest may wander, or the questions don't allow you to fully articulate your company's position. One of the best ways to prevent having your words quoted out of context is to own your message. Your message is more likely to resonate when it is succinct and peppered with a smattering of sound bites, facts, figures and real world stories.


5. Keep Thy Distance

There is a precarious balance between being at ease and revealing too much information during an interview. You may have bonded with the reporter, but keep your chumminess in check. Stay alert as to how and what you disclose, whether it be product details, customer stories, or your personal opinion about your competitors. Reporters are clever and can sometimes whittle out valuable nuggets of confidential material when you get too comfortable. Rely on your RP partner to act as a buffer for you during interviews. Remember, everything is on the record. Alas, heed these tips, and say good bye to trembling knees!


For a free consultation on facing the media and your company's PR strategy, click below to schedule a call.


Insights to fuel

modern brands

Sign up for our SKC Insights newsletter to get industry insights, trends, and more in your inbox.

Contact Us

SHARE THIS

Latest Blogs

By SHARON SIM February 9, 2026
A rebrand isn’t just a visual refresh, it’s a recommitment to purpose. At SKC, our new identity brings strategy, storytelling, and experience into sharper alignment—so every touchpoint reflects who we are and where we’re going. Rooted in intention and built for momentum, this next chapter sets the stage for brands read
By SHARON SIM January 14, 2026
AI has entered marketing like an all-purpose, high-octane oscillating saw—fast, versatile, and impossible to ignore. It can draft content in seconds, surface insights in minutes, and take repetitive tasks off your plate. But just because a tool is powerful doesn’t mean it’s right for every job. In marketing and communications, knowing where AI helps and where it doesn’t can be the difference between messages that feel sharp and those that feel hollow. In this blog, we explore how brands can use AI to work smarter without losing the human judgment, creativity, and connection that make communication truly effective.
By SHARON SIM December 10, 2025
Breaking into U.S. media isn’t just about showing up, it’s about playing by the rules of a new playground. At SKC, we help Asian brands turn strategy, storytelling, and timing into coverage that sticks. With the right partner, clear expectations, and cultural insight, your pitches don’t just get seen, they earn real tr
By SHARON SIM November 26, 2025
When it comes to PR, having an agency isn’t enough, having a true partner is what moves the ball. At SKC, we help brands turn collaboration into momentum, aligning strategy, storytelling, and execution so every play pushes you closer to the goal. With the right game plan, clear communication, and a team working in sync
By SHARON SIM October 7, 2025
When brands expand globally, showing up isn’t enough, showing up ready is what sets you apart. At SKC, we help Asian companies enter the U.S. market with confidence, crafting stories that resonate, strategies that evolve, and communications that truly connect, turning market entry into meaningful momentum.
By SHARON SIM September 4, 2025
When digital ads are done right, they don’t interrupt, they connect. At SKC, we help brands turn ads into conversations that are timely, relevant, and meaningful, transforming every impression into an opportunity for genuine engagement.
By SHARON SIM August 5, 2025
When you know your audience, you don’t just market, you connect. At SKC, we use personas to help brands move beyond assumptions and into authentic, insight-driven strategies that speak to what people really care about.
By SHARON SIM July 7, 2025
Seasonal marketing turns timely moments into lasting impact. With smart, well-timed campaigns, SKC helps brands connect, convert, and stay top of mind all year long.
By SHARON SIM June 3, 2025
Seasonal marketing turns timely moments into lasting impact. With smart, well-timed campaigns, SKC helps brands connect, convert, and stay top of mind all year long.
By SHARON SIM May 1, 2025
Traditional PR builds trust, boosts credibility, and creates lasting impact, even in a digital-first world. Here’s how SKC blends classic tactics with modern channels to elevate your brand!
Show More