I did an interview with NPR (what! im a glutton for punishment apparently) today and it airs tomorrow. They called me earlier this week for pre-interview questions and the story was a series on the growth of mom bloggers. Totally nonthreatening, right? They asked me why I got started in blogging, what i thought of dad bloggers, all sorts of great questions. No PR blackout in sight.
Then today when I did the real interview it was ALL about brands and bloggers. I tried to keep it super positive, but I totally choked on a few questions. I just had a brain fart.
He asked me what if I ever worried about the privacy of my family while dealing with corporations.
I stumbled.
I was channeling Elmer Fudd.
Uh. Uh. Uh.
Cause you know, I never have. I am a blogger, I put up half naked pictures of myself, what is this privacy you speak of? But when faced with the question in that perspective, I had not once considered it and if you could see my face, it probably glazed over.
He also made references to me being paid several times and I did correct that we are not paid for our opinions and I was not paid to do reviews. I also said I am not a review blogger. I stressed that most bloggers were not paid for their reviews, but some were paid for their marketing or content development. I have no idea how that is going to come off.
I think the biggest mistake I made was I was asked if regular, nonmoms, can enter the market just for the “free stuff” and I said yes, of course, but like with anything, the few cannot outweigh the many that are doing it right. And then I said, and will no doubt make the air, “that even moms could be less than honest”.
I meant that ANYONE, not just ‘nonmoms’, could get into it for ‘free stuff’ and not really to work with brands on a professional level. I just hope its not cut to have a question that is rewritten that says “do you think moms are honest” and then you hear my follow up answer.
I made all these notes based on the questions I was asked before and there was nothing on them that would have helped me. It might as well been a blank sheet of paper in front of me.
Someone listen tomorrow and tell me how bad it was.
I need media training.
~Trisha[/private]
its really messed up that they did that to you. sounds like they wanted you to stumble over those questions. hopefully many will read this post and be forewarned if the situation ever arises for them.
You got blind-sided! Which is going to draw more listeners at this juncture? Yep! Bloggers and brands! Oh, sure, everyone was so nice. The interviewer was a nice, polite fellow who smiled and made you comfortable! Bait and switch. The media version of a sleazy used car salesman.
Hi Trish~
Hey! This is my first trip to momdot! Cool website! Very clever!
I half-heard your interview on NPR (while baking cookies, feeding kids, you know the drill…). Anywho…. I wassn’t paying very careful attention, but I am wondering if what he was going after was the age-old dilemma of advertising in general. You know, whether mom bloggers opinions/posts (or any blogger for that matter) are influenced by this new form of advertising. Like… this company is paying me this much money or giving me these free products… so I’d better say something nice. Well, I think you answered that part splendidly!
Well… if you hope in doing the interview was to draw more moms to momdot… Here’s one! Thanks for your website, efforts, talents, etc
xo
Oh Trisha, I’m so sorry you blanked out on a few of those. You know that whatever they do they’re going to twist what you say. I think the media is out to get “mom bloggers.” Please. Do they not have anything better to do with their time than that!
P.S. It’s not “FREE” stuff we get! LOL
It will be okay!!! I don’t know who that company is? Or media outlet? Must know so I can listen in!!
I admire you for being brave enough to do it at all. I’ll be listening!
I bet you did a great job. And if you didn’t do perfect so what, none of us would do as well as you anyway. Don’t sweat it.
Barbara
They always do that. I’m sure it will be ok! Don’t worry
how bag can they turn this?
Oh girl, no worries. Chalk it up as a learning experience for the next (bigger and better) interview. Onward and upward, right??
And hey, no F-Bombs so really, it’s all good..
)
Sounds like it was a tough interview. But, either way, hopefully it should be a good opportunity to further the discussion on the relationship between brands and mommy bloggers. I look forward to listening in tomorrow.
I agree with Nichol! I would’ve told him that I wouldn’t answer any question that wasn’t on the sheet he had sent you. I mean what was the point in that if he didn’t ask only the questions that were on there? That’s shady! I hope it goes ok and he doesn’t make things out to sound worse and/or wrong than how it was meant. Good luck!
Do you know which show it will be on? I listen regularly and I heard a clip with you before, so I’m guessing I’ll here this one, but I will listen for it specifically! I’m sure they will edit out the stuff that you stumbled over for the most part. I find it odd that they asked you if nonmoms could take advantage of the system. I’m not a Mom, but I am pretty sure I can test many products without having kids around, and still do it honestly! Weird way to ask that question. I’m sorry it didn’t go as smoothly as you hoped, but I’m sure you will sound great. You generally express yourself well, so hopefully that will come across in the interview.
Ok its up to you to break it to me then! its tommorow morning on weekend edition!
Trisha, that totally sucks that they did that to you. It’s totally not fair to give you one set of questions and then change the terms. I think it happens more often than not otherwise the news wouldn’t be interesting.
The thing is, they were very nice. I just really thought it was more on mommy blogger evolution and then it ended up being all brand related. I would have prepared better if i had known every question was brand related. You know how hard it is to come up with a product you dont love on the spot ? And if you dont answer that, it makes it look like you love EVERYTHING and are a liar. LMAO!!!!!!! Since i am not what you would consider a review blogger, its a reach to find something that wasnt really fabulous.
oh man!! i would’ve refused to answer those questions and told him thats not what you thought this interview was about. And that you only want to talk about the growth.
And then he can Suck it!!
He was nice, not a jerk. Its just that I think I totally put my own foot in my mouth depending on how the show is cut. He asked me if i was going to blog about it and i said depends on how bad you slaughter me. HA HA HA
“I meant that ANYONE, not just ‘nonmoms’, could get into it for ‘free stuff’ and not really to work with brands on a professional level.”
Do people assume that about nonmoms? Any woman, mom or not, can be a serious/career blogger interested in PR. I am sort of disturbed that anyone might assume if someone is not a mom that they are just interested in PR for free stuff.
I dont know. His point was valid..i think he meant like…any jo blo can capitalize on this phenomenon without being legitimate and I was trying to say that ANYONE can do that, doesn’t matter who you are. But it came out bad. Total sound bite on my behalf.
Sounds like they blindsided you too and were a little…um…dishonest about what they would be talking to you about.
I even asked them what the story would be about and they said basically the growth of moms online. All the lead up questions were totally great in the NON RECORDED interview. But the first question on the recorded out the gate was bloggers and brands….and every question that followed. They even asked me a product I loved and a product I didnt like. How do you say on air what you dont like? I mean, these are just our personal opinions..i dont want to put a company on BLAST just because I couldnt use the product. I was like, im not really a review blogger, but i used some face cream that was $325 and it didnt make a difference for me. I did not use thier name because that isnt fair.
Dooce got a plug from me though. So did Motts, iRobot, General Motors, and Purex (lol).
I agree with Kim.. they are the ones that look bad.. not you. You just keep doing what your doing Trisha, because you do it great!