Johannesburg – In recent months, a concerning trend has emerged in South African media: professionals conducting TV interviews from their cars via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
While remote work offers flexibility, this practice damages professionalism, brand trust, and audience perception.
Here’s why it must stop and what to do instead.
1. It Looks Unprofessional & Sloppy
First impressions matter. A car interior: -with distracting backgrounds, poor lighting, and awkward camera angles -screams “unprepared.”
Viewers associate quality with credibility; a haphazard setup undermines expertise.
2. Audio & Visual Quality Suffers
Cars aren’t soundproof. Background noise (traffic, honking, or engine hum) disrupts clarity.
Glare from windows or shaky cameras further degrades the viewer experience.
Studios or quiet home offices exist for a reason.
3. It Hurts Brand & Personal Reputation
Interviewees represent their companies or fields.
A car interview suggests disregard for the audience’s time and the topic’s importance.
Would a CEO take a shareholder call from their backseat? Likely not.
4. Missed Engagement Opportunities
A proper setup allows for visual aids, branding, and controlled interactions. A car interview limits engagement — no screen sharing, no eye contact, and zero control over interruptions.
5. South Africa Deserves Better Standards
SA’s media landscape competes globally. Low-effort interviews reinforce stereotypes about “unserious” African professionalism.
Elevating production quality elevates the nation’s voice.
Better Alternatives:
Use a Home Office: A tidy backdrop, ring light, and mic cost less than reputation damage.
Rent a Co-Working Space: Many affordable options offer professional settings.
Pre-Record: If live isn’t mandatory, record in a stable environment.
Convenience shouldn’t override credibility.
South African professionals must reject car interviews: mediocrity shouldn’t trend. Demand better, deliver better.
Reputation managers, weigh in: please: How do car interviews damage brand perception on TV? Drop your insights below! #MediaReputation #Professionalism”.
car interviewsENCAJanine Hillsmedia credibilityNewzroom Afrikaremote work standardse work standardsremotSouth African TV interviewsSABCSouth African TV interviewsZoom professionalism
*This article was first published in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za
