Tips from Cornell Broadcast Studios

For all interviews 

Necessary equipment  

• Use a computer, tablet or smart phone with a microphone (either built in or external)  
• The microphone should be close (4” to 6”) to your mouth 
• For audio interviews we recommend using earbuds 
• Before starting, make sure your equipment is fully charged and/ or plugged in during the interview 

Location and setup

• Ensure you have a quiet, comfortable location with as little background noise as possible  
• In choosing your location, note that rooms with parallel, hard walls, vaulted ceilings and uncovered floors will not give the best sound quality, so, try to find a room that has soft surfaces, e.g. carpeting or curtains 

For TV/video interviews 

Additional necessary equipment and recommended platforms 

• Make sure your computer, tablet or smartphone has a web-camera (either built in or external) 
• The platforms typically used for interviews are Zoom or Skype – linked are the basics for using either Zoom or Skype 

Location, set up and your appearance 

• Ensure your space has a simple background and no extraneous noise, such as a fan or refrigerator 
• Direct available lighting at and slightly above your face, rather than behind you 
• Have your camera at eye-level and maintain eye contact with the camera 
• Dress appropriately avoiding loud colors or bold patterns 
• For more info, click here to watch a 5 minute video for tips on how to look good in web interviews 

For questions or more detailed information, please contact Glen Palmer (email: grp2@cornell.edu; phone: 607-229-6192) or Bert Odom-Reed (email: bjr3@cornell.edu; phone: 607-280-6644).