KEY DEADLINES AND ZOOM ACCESS

• 1. Attend Zoom meeting
• 2. Following production structure below (point 2)
• 3. KEY: Prepping and asking questions / working with Journalist coach to deliver outstanding interviews
• 4. Editing via Vimeo
• 5. Adding embed code to DB

Troubleshooting and solving common issues

1. Interview is late or doesn’t attend. Solution: We email using templates and Logs
2. Log page is down: Solution: Just make a note and submit later.

Company Communication Protocol
Our Production and Finance Managers no longer respond to direct contractor emails, as their roles are focused on client-facing and operational responsibilities. Contractor support is managed exclusively via the Dashboard and Contractor Log System.

Thank you for respecting our streamlined communication process.

Support folder You can quickly find what to do if you cant access the zoom meeting or what do if an interview overruns, plus everything else.

Common Issues & How to Solve Them – Before You Log a Request: Many issues can be resolved quickly without needing to contact the team. Our support folder helps you troubleshoot common problems independently, saving time and keeping production efficient. Always check the Support folder before using the Log System.

Log System: All production, technical or finance issues must go through the Log System: This ensures that requests are properly tracked, assigned to the appropriate team member, and responded to in a timely and accountable manner. It also helps us maintain a clear record of all production-related correspondence. Please post your message there and wait for a response. The system is staffed by administrators whose working hours may differ from your own.

Using AI to prepare for interviews: For your interviews, use editorial@faculti.net in DeepSeek and write clear prompts to get summaries, definitions, and critiques fast. Go to paper link, Copy the abstract from the raw paper into DS, and prompt AI "Summarise the paper in 3 key sentences" or "What are the Criticisms & Debates" or "Give me Real-World Examples" so as to engage fully with the interviewee to support your own subject knowledge. Use AI please, no man is an Island.

1. Start with Polite Welcome: Hello Professor or Doctor xxx this is xxx from Faculti. Thanks for taking the time to speak to us today.

2. I am just going to go through the structure of the interview very briefly: The interviews are 20 minutes long, and I will re-ask the questions to structure the interview, and follow up at times. If there are mistakes, please don't worry, as we can redo parts if we have to. May I ask, is there any questions you may have before we start?

3. Check framing, sound and lighting.

4. PRESS Record to cloud

5. MAKE SURE YOU MUTE YOURSELF WHEN NOT SPEAKING, otherwise zoom will capture your image when they are speaking

Essential News Sources for Journalists:

As journalists, staying ahead of global events, industry trends, and in-depth analysis is crucial. Regularly engaging with diverse, high-quality news sources sharpens your reporting and enriches your perspectives.

• BBC News – UK-based global news coverage
• The New York Times – In-depth reporting from the U.S.
• The Wall Street Journal – Business and finance news
• Bloomberg – Markets, economics, and global insights
• Financial Times – Business, politics, and economic analysis
• Wired – Technology, innovation, and culture
• Al Jazeera – International news with a Middle Eastern focus
• South China Morning Post – News and analysis from Asia

READ PLEASE

At outset say "When I was doing my research for this interview, I thought the idea of (include suggested interesting point below) was interesting."

At the end of an interview: "That's all the time we have for you sadly, really interesting. So what's your work focused on now? Or what are you working on now?" and have a 2-minute chat with them.

Best: Acknowledge & Reference Their Response. Instead of jumping directly into the next question, add a short sentence that shows you understood their response.

Better: Add Context or Bridge the Gap. Briefly connect their response to your next question by explaining why you're asking.

REMEMBER: As the journalist, you set the tone—visually, energetically, and conversationally.

Interviewees will mirror your engagement. If you appear disinterested, they will be too. But if you come prepared, focused, and enthusiastic, it creates a rewarding experience for both sides. And that energy must be consistent—every interviewee deserves the same level of effort and attention. They've given us their time.

Use your prepared questions, thoughtful follow-ups, pacing, active listening, appreciation, and body language—nods, smiles, and verbal cues—to bring out their best and deliver exceptional interviews.

What is Faculti? Faculti is an academic and policy streaming platform, covering 8000 figures annually across the world, to inform both students and professionals of whats the latest information in their fields. 1000s of global institutions deliver the platform (especially in policy and professional worlds) plus millions view the platform.

Why did you chose me? We have a three pronged editorial process: 1. Most cited figures annually and the latest in academic journals. 2. Internal usage data, so econ, law, fin is very pop with our audience. 3. We partner with publishers who suggest figures/publications to cover (eg. Princeton UP, Taylor and Francis

How long until the interview goes live? Once we receive your headshot photo (they upload this to post prod link) we aim to get the interview live within 7-9 days

Can they see it before it goes live? This does slow down the production process, don't encourage it, but say its best to ask the main office

Questions about business, or copyright/IP: say its best to ask the main office

Psychological Techniques for Better Interviews

• The Mirroring Technique: Subtly match the interviewee's speech patterns and body language to build rapport
• Strategic Silence: After important answers, pause for 2-3 seconds - often prompts deeper elaboration
• Anchoring Positive Responses: Start with questions they'll answer positively to set a constructive tone

Technical Preparation Checklist

1. Test Zoom settings 15 minutes before call (audio/video/lighting)
2. Have backup recording solution ready (e.g., Google)
3. Prepare browser tabs with: Their bio, Published works, Relevant news