Unit-II

Programme Formats

Lesson 3
Radio Interview and
Discussion
 Radio Interview- An Introduction

 The interview – an exchange between a journalist or presenter and a

source of information is a difficult art.
 It requires good preparation, knowledge of technique, heightened
people skills, in other words paying attention to others.
 The aim of an interview is to provide, in the interviewee’s own
words, facts, reasons or opinions on a particular topic so that the
listener can form a conclusion as to the validity of what he or she is
saying.
 Radio Interview- An Introduction (Contd..)

• This format is to elicit cream from expert or knowledgeable

personalities, public figures whose views and actions affect societal
behaviour or development.
• In a radio interview the important thing is to encourage the person that
you have chosen to interview to give interesting answers.
• A radio interview is always intended for a third party, i.e. the invisible
audience.
• There can be different types of interviews in terms of their duration,
content and purpose.
 Types of Interview

 Personality based Interview: Firstly, there are full fledged interview

programmes.
 The duration of these may vary from 10 minutes to 30 minutes or
even 60 minutes depending up on the topic, and the person being
interviewed.
 Most of such interviews are personality based.
 These are long interviews with well known people in the field of
public life, literature, science, sports, films etc.
 Types of Interview (Contd..)
 Vox Pop : Vox pop’ which is a Latin phrase meaning‘ voice of people’.
 Here generally just one or two questions are put across to ordinary people
or people with knowledge on some current topic to measure public
opinion.
 Interviewee or people’s names and identity may not be asked.
 For example when the general budget or the railway budget is presented
in the parliament, people representing radio go out and ask the general
public about their opinion.
 You have to be very inquisitive and hard working to be a radio interviewer
with good general awareness and communication skills.
 Types of Interview (Contd..)

 Informational interview : The purpose of this kind of interview is to

impart information to the listener.
 The sequence in which this is done becomes important if the details are
to be clear.
 There may be considerable discussion beforehand to clarify what
information is required and to allow time for the interviewee to recall or
check any statistics.
 Topics for this kind of interview include: the action surrounding a
military operation, the events and decisions made at a union meeting, or
the proposals contained in the city’s newly announced development
plan.
 Types of Interview (Contd..)
 The interpretative interview has the interviewer supplying the
facts and asking the interviewee either to comment on them or to
explain them.
 The aim is to expose the reasoning behind decisions and allow the
listener to make a judgement on the implicit sense of values or
priorities.
 Replies to questions will almost certainly contain statements in
justification of a particular course of action which should
themselves also be questioned.
 Types of Interview (Contd..)

 Interpretative interview (contd..) The interviewer must be well

briefed, alert and attentive to pick up and challenge the opinions
expressed.
 The essential point is that the interviewer is not asking for the facts
of the matter, since these will be generally known; rather he or she
is investigating the interviewee’s reaction to the facts.
 Examples in this category would be a government minister on the
reasons for an already published economic policy, why the local
council has decided on a particular route for a new road, or views of
the priest on proposals to amend the divorce laws.
 Types of Interview (Contd..)

 Emotional interview : The aim of the emotional interview is to

provide an insight into the interviewee’s state of mind so that the
listener may better understand what is involved in human terms.
 There is praise and acclaim for asking the right question at the right
time in order to illuminate a matter of public interest, even when
the event itself is tragic.
 Specific examples would be the feelings of relatives of people
trapped in the trash of an earthquake, the excitement surrounding
the moment of supreme achievement for an athlete or successful
entertainer, or the anger felt by people involved in an industrial
dispute
 Types of Interview (Contd..)
 Documentary based Interview: These different categories of interview are
likely to come together in preparing material for a documentary or feature.
 First, the facts, background information or sequence of events; then, the
interpretation, meaning or implication of the facts; finally, their effect on
people, a personal reaction to the issue.
 The documentary interview with, for example, a retired politician will take
time but should be as absorbing for the interviewer as it will be for the
listener.
 The process of recalling history should surprise, it should throw new light
on events and people, and reveal the character of the person.
 Each interview is different but two principles remain for the interviewer –
listen hard and keep asking ‘why?’
 Tips for conducting an Interview
 The technical aspects must be constantly monitored.
 The aims of the interview must always be kept in mind.
 The supplementary question – it is vital that the interviewer is not so
preoccupied with the next question as to fail to listen to what the
interviewee is saying.
 Thetiming of the interview must be strictly adhered to. This is true
whether the interview is to be of half an hour or two minutes.
 Tips for conducting an Interview

 To obtain sufficient briefing and background information on the

subject and the interviewee.
 To have a detailed knowledge of what the interview should achieve,
and at what length.
 To know what the key questions are.
 By anticipating likely responses, to have ready a range of
supplementary questions.
 Tips for conducting an Interview (Contd..)
 Know the guest before his arrival and ensure the topic and area of
interest
 Do not submit question in advance but discuss the area of question
with the guest
 Make the guest feel at home
 Do not pre-interview the guest to keep intact spontaneity
 Never refer conversation held before recording
 Do not interrupt with meaningless comments
 Avoid questions that invite ‘yes’, ‘no’ answers
 Radio Discussion

 Through a discussion we can find out a solution to problems.

 In any discussion there are more than 2 or 3 people and then ideas
can be pooled to come to some conclusion.
 In radio, this technique is used to let people have different points of
view on matters of public concern.
 Radio discussions are produced when there are social or economic
issues which may be controversial.
 So when different experts meet and discuss such issues, people
understand various points of view.
 Radio Discussion (Contd..)

 Generally,these discussions on radio are of longer duration-say 15

to 30 minutes.
 Two or three people who are known for their views and a well
informed senior person or journalist who acts as a moderator take
part and discuss a particular topic for about 30 minutes.
 The moderator conducts the discussion, introduces the topic and
the participants and ensures that every one gets enough time to
speak and all issues are discussed.
 Radio Discussion (Contd..)

 The topic for a broadcast debate should be a matter in which there

is genuine public interest or concern.
 The aim is for the listener to hear argument and counter-
argument expressed in conversational form by people actually
holding those views with conviction.
 The broadcaster can then remain independent.
 Tips for conducting a Radio Discussion

 Introduce the topic briefly and comprehensively

 Clarify the focus of the discussion
 Introduce the participants and clarify why they are eligible to speak on
the issue
 Present a question or statement
 Choose a participant to respond to it
 Go round the table to make sure that everybody gets a chance to speak
 Bring together differing points of view in interesting juxtapositions
 Encourage the participants to speak by being interested.
Tips for conducting a Radio Discussion
(contd..)
 The subject must be researched and the essential background
information gathered and checked.
 Accepting the existence of an opposite view and logically
explaining why you believe it to be wrong is one of the best ways
of sounding convincing on radio
 The moderator should have everyone’s name, and his or her
designation, written down so as to be clearly visible – it is
amazing how easy it is for one’s mind to go blank, even when you
know someone well.
 Tips for conducting a Radio Discussion

 After having an opinion strongly expressed, that speaker should not

be allowed to continue for too long before another view of the
matter is introduced.
 The moderator must obtain clarification of any technical jargon or
specialist language which a contributor may use.
 The chairman has to watch for, and correct, alterations in the
balance of voices that was obtained before the programme began.
 It is rarely desirable for the chairman to attempt a summing-up.
 Ifa summary is required, it is often better to invite each speaker to
have a ‘last word’.
 Thank you
Presentation by- Dr. Atul Upadhyay