Journalists from Finnish and international media often look for experts to interview on timely topics in the news or as the result of a press release Aalto has issued on significant research findings. You may be asked to provide more information for a print or digital article, or invited to a podcast or television interview. 

We encourage Aalto experts to take part in public conversations and to share their knowledge with the media, however, researchers have the right to decline requests.

If you feel you need support in assessing a media request or preparing for the interview, please get in touch with Communications Services. You can find the contact details for your school’s communication manager here.

The basics 

• Before the interview, ask the reporter about the kind of questions you will be asked. Many journalists will agree to share their main questions in advance by email. In some cases, especially for international broadcast media, there may be a pre-interview.
• Know the media and its target groups. Commenting on a research study for a local industry media can differ significantly from how you talk about the study in a global radio interview. If you’re unsure of the media’s style, Communications Services can help you.
• Think about your main message: what do you have to add to the conversation? Keep in mind that your message will have the best chance of getting through when it is meaningful to the media’s target audience. 

Interview tips

• Speak in a way that's easy to understand, using concrete examples to illustrate your statements. Short answers usually suffice – the journalist will ask follow-up questions if needed.
• If you don’t know the answer, need to check details or you feel uncomfortable commenting on something that falls outside of your expertise, say so.
• For print or digital media, ask to see the interview before it is published. Finnish journalistic guidelines state that interviewees can see their quotes before publication if the publication schedule allows. The right of inspection applies only to the interviewee’s own statements. Internationally this is less common and up to the practices of individual media. If you have comments, remember to send them as soon as possible, as newsroom deadlines can be tight.