Flagging
Verbal technique to emphasize the most important points during interviews.
Definition
Flagging means verbally highlighting key messages during interviews using phrases like "The most important point is..." or "What I want your readers to understand is..." to ensure critical information stands out.
This technique helps journalists identify quotable moments and increases the likelihood that flagged messages appear in coverage.
Why It Matters
Journalists process hours of interviews into short articles. Flagging helps your most important points survive the editing process.
Without flagging, the messages you consider crucial might be cut while less important but more colorful quotes remain.
Examples in Practice
"If there's one thing to remember from this conversation, it's that..."
An executive flags the competitive differentiator three times during a 30-minute interview.
A media trainer teaches clients to flag before and after delivering each key message.