The One Thing You Should Always Say to a Journalist Near the End of an Interview

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

An interview with a journalist is more than just a conversation. It’s a chance to share authentic insights, showcase your expertise, and position yourself as a thought leader in your field. But navigating these moments without guidance can feel like stepping onto an unpredictable stage. Questions can twist and turn unexpectedly, pulling the discussion in new directions. Our media relations team works with clients ahead of any important interview to make sure they feel equipped to communicate clearly and they have the tools to communicate clearly and they have the tools to steer the conversation with confidence.

Whether you’re a law firm partner breaking down a significant court ruling or a legal tech executive exploring industry trends, clearly addressing your key messages during a media interview is crucial. Journalists these days have little time to spare, so every minute of every interview must be put to good use. To do that, you must ensure that your points are clear, memorable, and impactful. And while a strong opening sets the stage, a powerful closing can leave a lasting impression, tying everything together and ensuring that your message has gotten through.

This is your moment. Forget first impressions. The last impression you leave may be the most important. So here’s a simple, effective closing line to make sure your main points stick:

“We’ve covered a lot of ground today, but here are the three key takeaways I want to leave you with…”

Why is this such a good communications tactic? Let’s break it down.

1. Journalists Are Dealing with a Firehose of Information

Reporters are professional listeners, but even they can struggle to unpack a complex conversation and turn it into a sharp, detailed story. This is especially true in the legal profession, where interviews often cover intricate regulatory shifts, high-stakes litigation, or and complicated matters.

Your discussion may have touched on everything from a major court ruling’s implication, to the evolving legal tech landscape, to your firm’s latest thought leadership initiative, or even to what you had for breakfast, if the reporter felt particularly chummy and conversational.

By summarizing your key points at the end of the interview, you’re essentially handing them the building blocks for their story. You’re not telling them what to write, but you’re making their job easier—and there’s a great likelihood they will appreciate it (I did when I was a reporter).

2. The Subject May Be Complex (And You’re the Guide)

Not every journalist is a legal expert. They may be covering multiple beats, juggling several stories at once, or working under tight deadlines. If you’re discussing a highly technical or nuanced legal topic—a precedent-setting court decision around immigration, the implications of new DEI regulations, or the evolving role of AI in legal research—breaking the conversation down into three key points helps ensure accuracy and clarity.

This approach minimizes the risk of misinterpretation, helps to communicate your message effectively, and positions you as a reliable, easy-to-understand, go-to source for clear and concise legal insights.

3. You Establish Yourself as a Media-Savvy Thought Leader

Confidence is key when it comes to interacting with the media. Concluding an interview with a clear concise summary helps you project authority and expertise about the subject matter. This isn’t just about knowing your topic; it’s about understanding how to communicate it effectively in the media landscape.

Journalists remember sources who make their lives easier. If you’re the kind of legal expert who can articulate complex rulings, regulatory shifts, or industry trends in a bite-sized, digestible way, they’ll be more likely to come back to you in the future. That’s how long-term media relationships are built—and why the best legal commentators become go-to sources for high-profile stories.

4. You’re Helping the Journalist Without Being Patronizing

There’s a fine line between being helpful and appearing overbearing, especially when discussing complex legal topics like litigation strategy, regulatory compliance, or legal tech. This technique strikes the perfect balance—it’s not “Here’s what you should write,” but rather, “Here’s what I think is most important from our discussion.”

It respects the journalist’s intelligence while gently guiding your key messages. You’re not dictating the narrative but making sure that nuanced legal concepts are framed accurately. It’s collaborative, not controlling, which makes it more likely that your insights are represented fairly and correctly.

As a reporter, the sources who wrapped up with a clear, concise summary at the end of my calls were lifesavers. I never felt like an interviewee was telling me what to write (most of the time!)—it was about making sure I didn’t have to play detective to piece together their key points, and I appreciated that.

5. Your Message Gets Through Loud and Clear

Interviews are dynamic, especially when discussing complex legal issues. You may have spent half the conversation fielding unexpected questions—perhaps about the broader implications of new legislation or the ripple effects of a high-profile court decision. Maybe the journalist zeroed in on a secondary point, like a specific clause in a new regulation, rather than your main message about its industry-wide impact. A strong closing summary ensures that your top three takeaways don’t get lost in the shuffle.

If you don’t summarize your own key messages, someone else will try to do it for you—and they might not get it right.

6. It Helps You Control the Narrative Without Sounding Controlling

In an interview, you don’t always get to dictate the direction of the conversation. A journalist might focus on a minor legal precedent when you were hoping to discuss its broader significance, or they might latch onto an offhand remark about law firm hiring trends instead of your main point about the evolution of legal talent acquisition.

By summarizing the three most important takeaways, you’re gently steering the story back to what matters most to you. You are giving them a strong foundation for how they should be thinking about your insights. It’s like a roadmap that leads the writer to the piece you want them to draft.

7. It Minimizes the Risk of Being Misquoted or Misinterpreted

Even the best reporters sometimes misunderstand or misinterpret a complex legal issue, especially if they’re working on a tight deadline or covering a fast-evolving subject outside their expertise. A closing summary helps reinforce your key points and reduce the chances of miscommunication. Think of it as providing a verbal fact-check. If there was any confusion during the conversation—such as the distinction between statutory and case law or the practical impact of a compliance change—this is your chance to clarify and ensure the right message gets through before the article goes live.

By using this technique, you’re not just being helpful to the journalist, you’re protecting your own reputation. You are making sure your words are reflected accurately, especially on complicated legal matters where detail and accuracy are everything.

The Big Takeaway

Before you wrap up any interview, take a deep breath, compliment the reporter for a job well-done, and drop this golden phrase: