Around 11am, a reporter sent me a YouTube link of a fight at an Arizona Cardinals football game. She wanted to know if a client was available for an on-camera interview to talk about limiting this kind of activity during the approaching Super Bowl that Arizona is hosting. The story was for the 5pm newscast, so she could interview the client at anytime.
The client needed time to put on a tie and shave, but he arranged the interview for 1pm. That’s about two hours after the reporter made her interview request.
If a reporter suddenly requested an interview within the next hour or two, could you accommodate the request? Do you have a tie, change of clothes or even a razor blade handy to make yourself to appear on air?
The reporter asked if the client could meet her near the stadium so it could be in the background. The stadium is across town from the client’s office, but he agreed to make the trek.
If a reporter prefers not to interview you at your office or current location, are you flexible enough to drive to another place if that location is halfway to Mars?
Around noon, the reporter emailed back, saying she needed to get another interview at 1pm. Could the client reschedule his interview for 2pm? He agreed.
If a reporter reschedules on you an hour before your interview, can you make the needed changes to your schedule?
When I was reporting, if someone said “no” to any of the above questions, I may have moved on to someone else who said “yes.” And because the second person was available and flexible, I may have never called the first person again. I compare this to a second-string quarterback who earns an opportunity to start, just keeps winning and downgrades the former starter indefinitely to the bench.