How personal are the props in your TV interview?
Ok, maybe this is a little paranoid, but my feeling is that if you’re doing an on-camera interview, try not to have anything very personal visible on camera.
Example: I was watching a nationally-televised interview last night and the person being interviewed had their laptop open just behind them on the desk. On the laptop screen was a picture of their children. Now the picture was large enough and close enough that you could see details of the faces. Had the topic been controversial, for example, some nut case suddenly has easy access to personal information about you.
I guess the bottom line is, having a picture of your children (or whatever else is very personal) isn’t relevant to the interview so why not remove it from view? I’m a better-safe-than-sorry kind of guy.
This reminds of the Kirstie Alley interview with Barbara Walters in which Barbara comments on a beautiful picture frame on the table, then she asks if it’s a picture of Kirstie’s mother. Turns out the picture was in the frame when Alley bought it and she just liked the photo. If you want pictures of kids in the background, buy a frame that’s got some kids in the advertising and stick that on your desk - your interview children 
Posted: December 16th, 2006 under Location Interviews, TV Interview Case Studies, Tips for Interviewees.