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Work with the media
Doris Daou
Director of Communications and Outreach, NASA Lunar Science Institute, USA
Be flexible, but clear on what is your latest deadline. Make sure you give the scientists a complete background of what the interview is for. Do not surprise them. If you are able have the scientist review the scientific facts (not the whole story) of your piece. Scientists hate to be misquoted. They are aware that other than the public, their colleagues will be reading or watching this interview.
Once I was asked to talk with what I thought were journalists for a couple of hours. I ended up using a whole day and the show was a reality show where the producers told me what to actually say. I was, as you may imagine, very upset, even irate!
Once I was putting together a video about the life of a scientist. So I went to his (very prestigious) university and was interviewing his colleagues. One of his colleagues, was a very well known and influential astronomer. In the beginning he really was not happy with my presence and the interruption he was "suffering" because of the interview. But I was patient, and I was smiling and complementing him on his own achievements. I did not focus my questions on the honoured scientists but also on his own work and his relationship with my subject. After I left, I sent him a thank you note; he responded with a very kind letter and afterward always singled me out and honoured me with his connection. Basically whenever you are interviewing anyone, make sure you treat them in a personal and attentive way. It is not only about "your" story, but about a person and their work and achievements.
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