Q: When our club president was interviewed by a local reporter, none of his quotes were used in the paper. Can you give us some advice on how to talk about Rotary in interviews?

While a one-on-one media interview is different from a speech, in many ways, the goal is still to reach a large number of people with the Rotary story.

The good thing is that I believe we have a great story to tell the public. I’ve learned that when talking to reporters, it’s best to keep my answers short and to the point. I present the accomplishments of our great organization in as simple and direct a manner as possible and then try to share a personal story or anecdote that illustrates my point

I also make sure to avoid Rotary jargon, such as PDG or YEO, that's not easily understood by someone unfamiliar with Rotary. What's most important in an interview is to convey what Rotary is and what Rotary does. And I try to do that while being aware that the journalist is a gatekeeper to my true audience: the general public.

The RI Web site offers several tips for working with the media.