How to Handle Time Zone Changes for Media Interviews

Halloween night

If you’re an author or writer, and we’ve been connected for a while, chances are good you’ve been asked to do a media interview at some point, and perhaps many of them. Whether it’s for a local outlet or a global podcast, interviews are a great way to promote your work and reach new audiences. But if you’re not careful, time zone changes can trip you up and leave you scrambling at the last minute. Here’s how to handle time zone changes for media interviews like a pro.

First step:
Always check the time zones of the media outlets. For example, if you’re being interviewed by a podcaster in New Zealand and you’re in New York or Los Angeles, there are a number of hours between the two of you, e.g., if it’s 5:54 p.m. in Los Angeles, it is 1:54 p.m. the next day in New Zealand. You can see why it is so important to keep track of this. You don’t want to set up an interview in their time zone only to later discover that it will be 3:00 a.m. for you! Avoid that.

Second step:
There are other aspects of time and time zones to consider. For example: not all countries, states, and territories observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). That means that during certain times of year, there can be a one-hour difference between the two time zones! To avoid any confusion, always check the current time in both time zones and make sure that you adjust your schedule accordingly. For example, the UK goes back to Standard Time today, October 30th, while the US doesn’t go back on Standard Time until November 6th this year. If you are in the United States and you have an interview with an outlet in the UK that week, it could become a problem if no one had considered when the clocks move back.

Third step:
Be flexible with your schedule. When you’re coordinating an interview across time zones, it’s important to be flexible with your schedule in case there are any unforeseen delays or problems. For example, if your interviewer is running late, don’t be afraid to push back your start time by a few minutes. Or if there are technical difficulties on either end, don’t hesitate to reschedule for another day or time that works better for both of you.

Fourth step:
Become familiar with Greenwich Mean Time. You can find a calculator here:

Fifth step:
When you log the time of your interviews on your calendar, and you put them in both your home time zone and the outlet’s time zone, then if you have to travel unexpectedly all you need to do is to make sure you do the conversion to the new time zone. The trick is to remember to do it!

Bottom Line

Media interviews are a great way to promote your work and reach new audiences – but only if they go off without a hitch! Time zone changes can trip up even the most seasoned author or writer, so it’s important to be prepared. By following these simple steps, you can make sure that your next media interview goes off easily and smoothly – no matter what time zone changes come your way!

To your success!

Joanne

P.S. Happy Halloween!! Some of my favorites during my radio show included the following: Witchy Woman, Thriller, and Spooky.

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