Radio: A Key Component Of Media Relations
According to UNESCO, there are approximately 44,000 radio stations worldwide broadcasting to around five billion people, or about 70% of the world's population.*
The existence of radio waves was first discovered by Heinrich Hertz in 1886 and Guglielmo Marconi is often credited with the development of practical radio communication, achieving the first successful long-distance transmission in 1895 and the first transatlantic signal in 1901.
It was a full nineteen years later that the first commercial radio broadcast occurred in 1920, and marked the beginning of radio as a mass communication medium.
With so many technologies having been invented, launched and then retired, radio has continued to evolve, even more so with the advent of digital technologies.
Hong Kong Radio
In Hong Kong, there is HK Commercial Radio, Metro Radio and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) which is the public broadcaster and began operations in 1928.
Today, RTHK has eight channels broadcasting in English, Cantonese, and Putonghua, and transmitted on both AM and FM. This is a highly influential radio station with prime time programming reaching high level executives.
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- Law Firm PR: K3 Legal case study and RTHK interview here.
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Crushing Your Radio Interview
Here are eight strategies for mastering your radio interview:
1. Prepare
Before the interview, request the questions you’ll be asked to prepare your responses and reduce anxiety. Keep in mind that unfamiliar questions may still arise. If you receive questions in advance, write your answers, but avoid reading them on air to prevent the interview from being cut short.
2. Practice Your Responses
Rehearse your answers multiple times to become familiar with your key points. This will help reduce the likelihood of stumbling during the actual interview.
3. Use Notes Wisely
Bring notes with key points or statistics to refer to during the interview, whether printed or on a laptop. Avoid reading directly from them or flipping through pages during the discussion.
4. Know the Format
Understand whether the interview will be live or recorded and know the expected length. This information will help you tailor your responses accordingly.
5. Keep It Conversational
Treat the interview as a conversation with the host rather than a performance for an audience. This approach will make your delivery feel more natural.
6. Control Your Pace
Speak clearly and maintain a measured pace throughout the interview.
7. Comfort
Arrive at the studio 10-15 minutes early to familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
8. Top Tip
Some questions may warrant longer answers that include background or explanations, which is acceptable in one-on-one interviews with publications or online media.
However, radio interviews have strict time constraints, so be mindful of your response length to avoid being cut off.
If you say, ‘back to your question’ or ‘in answer to your question’, everything said before risks being cut if the interview is recorded.
Media Training
Media training equips executives to deliver key messages, whether live on air or during recorded interviews.
At Eight PR, we understand the power of effective communication. If you're ready to elevate your media presence and master the art of interviews, let’s connect!
Together, we can ensure you're prepared to shine in any media spotlight. Reach out to us today on eight@eightpr.com
About Eight PR (www.eightpr.com)
Eight Public Relations is a PR agency in Hong Kong, specialising in law firm, technology, and wealth management public relations. Utilising a power PR model and offering fractional PR services, we develop tailored, innovative strategies to enhance client reputations, drive growth opportunities, and establish brands. Our approach includes media relations, executive profiling, compelling content creation, and leveraging a global B2B network.