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A session created for the Alabama Scholastic Press Association's fall 2009 workshops.Written by Samford University's Kenny Smith.
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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
