I attended an awards ceremony last week celebrating academic impact with the work of each nominee showcased in a short film.
What stood out for me as I watched these lovely films was the use of the first person…
“I was able to directly influence policy…”
“I’m proud of the impact my work has had…”
I suspect the academics were cajoled into it a bit – they were after all nominated for awards celebrating the individual, but it struck me how powerful it sounded.
And also how rare it is to hear in interviews.
It didn’t sound arrogant. It sounded impactful. Don’t be afraid to make yourself important on air – as long as it’s warranted of course.
If a journalist feels you are at the heart of a story they are much more likely to cede control of the interview’s direction.