Interviewing for NICU Awareness Month

Step 1: Secure an interview

• Call the newsroom telephone number or reach out to the media outlet via their online submission system or email. This information is often located in the “Contact Us” section of the website.
• Introduce yourself, tell them that September is #NICUAwareness Month, briefly describe your story, and say that you are an advocate for families facing life with a medically fragile or premature child. Let them know if you are hosting an event or giving back to your NICU during the month. This may help add to the content of the story.  
• Please note that they may want to do a pre-interview before agreeing to cover your story.

Step 2: Prepare for your interview

• If possible, ask the reporter what questions they might ask, or what aspects of your story they will be covering.
• Gather any relevant data or stories you’d like to include.
• Write down some key points you’d like to make during your interview. Stick with 3-5 priorities as time is often limited.
• Practice with a friend. Have your friend interview you with some questions you might expect, and give you constructive feedback on your responses.

Step 3: The Interview

• Be sure to have some conversation with the reporter beforehand-it will help you feel more comfortable and attuned to what the reporter is looking for.
• Make sure to let the reporter know if there are aspects of your story you are not comfortable with addressing. If the reporter asks you questions you are unsure of the answer to, you can refer them to our general email [email protected] or another trusted source.
• Keep things concise and clear. Only a small part of what you say will actually air. Be sure to reiterate key points several times to ensure they ground your story.

Step 4: Share

• Share your story on social media using #nicuawareness.

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Email your story to [email protected], and we will share with our network.