Interviewing for TV

Interviewing for TV

Kenny SmithSamford University

University of Alabama

www.kennysmith.orgwww.twitter.com/kennysmith

The importance of interviews

Journalism's basic questions

Who

What

When

Where

Why

How

Classic news values

Impact

Timeliness

Prominence

Proximity

Bizarreness

Conflict

Currency

Impact

The number of people whose lives will be influenced in some way by the subject of the story.

Timeliness

Recent events have higher news value than earlier happenings.

News versus history.

Prominence

For the same occurrence, people in the public eye have higher news value than obscure people.

Proximity

Stories about events and situations in your community are more newsworthy than events that take place far away.

Bizarreness

Dog-bites-man is pretty routine.

Man-bites-dog is bizarre.

Going to school every day is the norm.School closings over swine flu is not the

norm.

Conflict

Strife is newsworthy.

Currency

More value is given to stories covering issues in the spotlight of public concern.

Swine flu vs. the sniffles.

Football vs. overdue library books.

Removed vending machines vs. new cafeteria trays.

Be aware

AppearanceMinimize hand talkingDress for television

avoid busy patternsavoid all-black/all-white clothingavoid shiny jewelrychoose neutral colorssubdued patterns

Preparing for your interview

Script some questions.

Practice.

Know the type of story you are writing. (Is it an expose, biographical or investigative?)

Shape your questions to produce needed results.

Things to ask in the interview

Lots of questions.

Even the basic ones.

Ask a key question a few times in different ways.

Persistence pays.

Things to ask in the interview

“How do you feel?”

“Why?”

The nuclear bomb question.

Things to do in the interview

Get names and titles.

Take note of body language.

Ask people to repeat themselves if necessary.

Get names and titles again.

Confirm spellings.

Techniques to consider

Ask questions that will help you build a story arc.

“How did you get started doing this?”

“What obstacles have you encountered?”

“How did you overcome them?”

“What is your ultimate goal?”

Techniques to consider

"Why?"

Often the heart of your story.

A great follow-up.

A great follow-up to the follow-up.

Techniques to consider

Listen to responses.

Don't rush to the next question.

Be sure you have the clarification you need.

Techniques to consider

Short, direct questions. Get to the point.

Shut up and let the subject speak.

Get their story, don't tell yours.

The best responses come after the subject has offered his pat response.

Techniques to consider

Avoid asking “yes” or “no” questions.

Open ended questions allow your subject to elaborate.

"Tell me about ..."

"What is your opinion of ..."

Things to listen for …

THE quote.

The soundbite.

Definitive statements.

Emotive statements.

But don't get caught up in procedural matters.

Before the interview

Build a little rapport

Tell your subject to be conversational

Tell them to look at you, not the camera

Encourage them to give concise, complete sentences

Before the interview

Practice.

The last interview question

“What have I forgotten to ask you about that I should know?”

Interviewing for TV

Kenny SmithSamford University

University of Alabama

www.kennysmith.orgwww.twitter.com/kennysmith