[cskinner]

Some things to keep in mind when doing any interview.

First, know what message you want to get across, and focus on that.

Second, avoid almost all "what if" type hypothetical questions.

Third, make your own recording of any interview, and make sure the reporter is aware that you are doing so.

I was fortunate enough to be part of some media training early in my career, where the trainer (an ex-TV reporter) recorded an interview with one of the participants. The next day they played for us the video they had put together splicing different questions into the interview and editing down the responses. The resulting "interview" was a real hit piece, and the editing was done smoothly enough that it presented as a single continuous take (even with the switching camera angles). It would have been very damaging if it had been broadcast like that, and without proof that it was faked the PR effort to counteract it would have been challenging.

[dcolkitt]

I'd say even more simply, don't talk to the press without the intermediation of a competent PR professional.

It's the same reason you don't talk to the police without a lawyer. Even if you're the cleverest person in the world, you're playing a game against an opponent who does this for a living and holds all the cards.