Media Relations Interviews

Because even Superman talked to Lois Lane

Interviews

Approved media representatives are invited to request interviews with Dragon Con representatives and certain Dragon Con guests.

If you are not authorized to request interviews, your interview request will not be processed. Only those reporters who have been approved for Media Access to the current Dragon Con are invited to request and conduct interviews. This form is to be used for both onsite and telephone interviews.

Some outlets will be invited to request interviews with Dragon Con guests appearing on the Walk of Fame. These guests include actors, directors, voice-over artists, and any other guest with a table in the Walk of Fame.

Interview requests are approved by the guests and/or their agents, and are scheduled by Dragon Con Media Relations. Requesting an interview is not a guarantee the interview will occur. The guest and Dragon Con Media Relations reserve the right to change the interview schedule as Dragon Con schedules change.

Requesting an interview is a simple process:

Prior to requesting an interview, we ask that you review our Interview Request Guidelines.
Interview requests open on July 1^st each year and will be accessible via this page.
Reporters approved for Media Access must be invited to request interviews with Walk of Fame guests. Requests received from reporters and/or outlets not invited to request interviews will not be processed. ALL reporters are invited to request interviews with Dragon Con guests not in the Walk of Fame.
Submit your requests via the Interview Request Form and/or the Walk of Fame Interview Request Form. Please use one form for each interview you are requesting. Forms containing multiple requests will not be processed.
Once you are confirmed as approved credentialed media eligible for interview requests, your information will be added to the Interview Request Spreadsheet. Requests from reporters/media outlets whose credentials have not yet been processed will be held until the status of their application is determined.

After Interview Requests close at 11:59 p.m. CST on August 15th, the Interview Request Spreadsheet will be sent to the guests’ representatives for review.
If your Interview Request is approved, you will be notified via e-mail of the date, time, and location of your interview. If you do not receive an e-mail, your request has not been approved. Approvals are sent the week of the convention, including Friday.
- Your interview will be automatically scheduled into the Interview Room at a time/date that fits into the guest’s schedule.
You may also use the Interview Request Form to request interviews with a Dragon Con spokesperson, phone interviews, and in-studio interviews.

**Submission of an Interview Request does not guarantee an interview. Guests and their representatives reserve the right to decline an interview at any time.

Walk of Fame Interview Request Form Interview Request Form

Guidelines

Dragon Con Media Relations is grateful for the enthusiasm with which reporters have embraced the media interview process. We appreciate your drive and enthusiasm, but we want to make sure you are using your time and resources wisely.

The following are guidelines apply to all reporters:

Media interviews are given to reporters as a courtesy, at the discretion of the guest and the guest’s agent.
Fan activities are the guests’ priority, and this may cause changes in the schedule including cancellations. Schedule changes and conflicts may affect your previously scheduled interview. Dragon Con Media Relations is not responsible for interviews occurring.
Interview Requests and the Interview Room are open only to reporters who have been invited to interview guests at the current Dragon Con.
Please limit your requests to fifteen (15) non Walk of Fame guests, including artists, authors, scientists, etc. Please limit your requests to ten (10) Walk of Fame guests total per organization (not per reporter).
If your total monthly distribution is not nationally significant, please pause before requesting an interview with a premier guest.
Please confirm all scheduled interviews with the Interview Room during the convention and prior to the scheduled interview.
Any reporters attempting to conduct interviews on the Dragon Con Walk of Fame at any time will lose their badge. This is true even if the guest says it’s okay.
Any reporters taking pictures in the Walk of Fame will lose their badge. This is true even if the guest says it’s okay.
Reporters who have not been invited to participate in interviews must refrain from requesting interviews with guests between panels or on the Walk of Fame. Reporters who violate this rule will lose their badge and may not be invited back as approved media.

**Requesting an interview through Dragon Con Media Relations does not guarantee or confirm approval of the requested interview. It is up to the guest, their agent, or their representative to approve the interview request. Guests and/or their representatives reserve the right to deny or revoke an interview at any time.

Tips

So you’ve got an interview. What do you do now? Here are some helpful tips so your interview is the best it can be!

Do your research. Look at other interviews the guest has done so you know your questions aren’t ones they’ve been asked a million times. If it is a popular question that you’re asking, try thinking of a creative way to word the question. Know the guest’s career, what they’ve done and what they’re doing now. Guests LOVE to talk about their current/future projects and favorite charities!
Decide on your questions before the interview. Interviews where reporters “wing it” rarely turn out as well as interviews where the reporter is well prepared.
Prepare more questions than you think you’ll need. There may only be time to ask four or five questions during a ten minute interview. If you have ten or fifteen questions prepared you have plenty to choose from depending on how the guest answers.
If you are attending a press conference, you will want to prepare a wide variety of questions because you never know what the other reporters will ask.
Scope out the Interview Room before your interview so you know where it is. Decide how you want to stage your interview (on-camera interviews only). Your friendly Interview Room staff members are there to help.
Confirm your interview with the guest and their representative in the Walk of Fame PRIOR to your interview. Then confirm the interview with the Interview Room.
Make sure you have all of your equipment (cameras, tripods, microphones, pen, paper, etc.) and that everything works!
Arrive at the interview location at least ten minutes before your interview so you have time to set up. Interviews are booked back-to-back so it’s important you’re on time, prepared and able to set up your equipment quickly.
The interview should flow like a conversation. Try to avoid looking at your notes during the interview.
HAVE FUN! And always thank the guest for the interview.