“Alaska’s Battle for Oil" - Phil Wight on Representation Accuracy in Professional Interviews

By Rachel Blume and Sarah Manriquez

The moment has come. National Geographic has reached out to interview you on an upcoming documentary focusing on a topic in your field. At first, you’re excited and flushed with the exhilaration of being interviewed by a group you’ve dreamed about since childhood. Then, the enthusiasm is replaced by anxiety. You’re being interviewed by a group you’ve dreamed about since childhood. What on Earth are you going to say? 

In National Geographic Investigates: Battle for Alaska's Oil, released in February 2023, two UAF experts, Phil Wight, Assistant Professor of History and Arctic and Northern Studies, and Rick Thoman, Alaska Climate Specialist with the International Arctic Research Center are featured throughout the film. National Geographic explores the history of oil in the region and the impacts of climate change. In an interview with UAF’s College of Liberal Arts, Wight discusses his experience interviewing for National Geographic and provides insight on how to ensure your research and opinions are accurately and fairly represented. Wight offers three recommendations for students being approached for an interview while transitioning into the professional world.

1) Request to Review Final Copy or Confirmed Footage
Requesting to see the final copy or confirmed footage of your interview provides you the ability to review how your research and your opinion is being used. This gives more autonomy over the representation of your work and your words. “It was wonderful to work with [National Geographic] because they showed me all the [confirmed] footage after it had been filmed of what I was saying,” said Wight. If you are not given the opportunity to review, you may find that after multiple rounds of edits, the final draft or the confirmed footage may not portray you and your work accurately.

If the organization you are working with refuses your request for review, it may be time to consider if this is the right project for you. It’s okay to walk away if it’s not a good fit. However, consider why they are unable to meet your request. A small organization that is understaffed and a larger corporation that wants to control the narrative are different concerns and should be handled differently.

2) Work with Your Public Information Officer
A Public Information Officer (PIO) is responsible for communicating with the public and media by disseminating accessible and meaningful information in a timely manner for internal and external audiences. In a university setting like the University of Alaska Fairbanks, PIOs also act as liaison with outside entities interested in working with our faculty, staff and students. In the example of Wight filming with National Geographic, there are contracts and agreements that need to be set in place before an outside entity can come onto campus and start filming.“It’s their job to help protect you and to work with the media,” said Wight. These parameters are set in place to protect the participant and the university.

Outside of a university setting, not every organization has a dedicated public information officer role in their leadership structure. However, depending on the profession, similar duties are handled regardless, as with media requests and public announcements. Other sectors, such as government offices, have dedicated PIOS that focus on the positive public perception and are tasked with disseminating critical data during an emergency situation to ensure accurate and clear information is shared.

3) Write Out Your Main Points Prior to Interview
By organizing your thoughts and research ahead of time, you can cut to the core aspects of your research and your opinions. Wight recommends writing out your main points in a really pithy fashion because “it lends itself well to the medium and you're more likely to have your clips aired.”

In any given interview, the interviewer is looking to learn more about what you know. As an expert, the breadth of knowledge in your field is vast. However, “you’re not writing a book about your research in your interview,” said Sarah Manriquez, UAF College of Liberal Arts Public Information Officer. Much of what you say will be paraphrased in the article. The quotes that are selected to be included in the final edit will be what the author can’t say without you. They will be your best points in the most concise fashion.

You set yourself up for success when you decide ahead of time what information you want to convey and how it’s best said in a concise and accessible way for others to consume. As flattering as it may be to be represented on a large scale by a widely accepted source, it’s important to consider the reality of the situation and realize that it’s in your best interest to focus on maintaining your integrity.

National Geographic Investigates: Battle for Alaska's Oil is available to stream now through National Geographic TV, Apple TV, Hulu, Sling, ABC, and Disney+.