Interview

The beating heart of journalism

 There are interviewers
Oriana Tom Martin Barbara
Fallaci Brokaw Bashir Walters

David Frost Dan Rather Truman David

Capote Letterman

Tim Karan Vir Sanghvi Karan Johar

Sebastian Thapar Shekhar Rajiv
Gupta Masand
 There are interviewees
Ayatollah Suresh Marilyn Princess
Khomeini Kalmadi Monroe Diana
Mani Aiyar Madonna
Richard Marlon Prince Bill Clinton
Nixon Brando Charles Paris Hilton

Aishwarya Hugo Jayalalitha Narendra

Rai Chavez Rakhi Modi
Katrina Sawant Omar
Kaif Abdullah
 The background
• Initially regarded as contrived, invasion of
privacy, a way of making news, not
reporting it
• 19th century editor – “a thing of ill savour in
decent nostrils”
• Interviewing considered not just gathering
material, but creating it (Pseudo event)
• Interviewing is sometimes put on par with
press conference and press release
 More background
• Lincoln was never quoted directly
• No notes were taken – ill mannered!
• Journalists relied on their own memories
• From 1920’s note-taking supposed to be
“discriminate and intelligent”
• Gradually, note taking helped journos create
identity as separate group practising “objective
reporting”
• Later, interviewing entered the lexicon of the
journalist as the basis for much of his fact
gathering, but it is still seen as a kind of nexus
between him and publicity-seeking hound!
 20 century blossoming
th

• Radio, television, newspapers evolved

• The relationship between both parties
healthy
• Power and control equal – born of respect
• Need for publicity balanced by need for the
true story
 21st century – it’s a dying form
• Everyone has his or her own website, blog, etc
• Ridiculous demands are made
• Control issues now acute (publicists, stars)
• Industry competition
• Need to suck up to the celebs
• Copy and picture approval
• Little space for the original observation, unless
spin is positive
 The danger
• Journalism is becoming the PR arm of individuals
and institutions, uncritical, too positive,
ingratiating, the sharp edge completely dulled
(Karan Johar, Simi Garewal)

• Conversely, it is becoming too shrill, a harangue

that does not allow the subject to speak (Arnab
Goswami, the Sardesais, Barkha Dutt)
 What interviewing is
• The chief tool of active journalism
• Makes reporting fact-centered rather than political
commentary or literary aspiration
• The heart of most investigation upon which
journalism rests
• A way of ensuring the journalist’s voice is heard
as well
• Sheer entertainment
• A powerful means of eliciting sensitive
information, especially when live as in broadcast
 What makes a great interview
• Timing • Curiosity
• A first or a final • Sympathy
interview • Friendliness
• Preparation • Enough time
• Knowledge • Perspective
• Focus and quotes • Knowing when to stop
• The correct approach • Integrity
• Comfort levels • Ethical concerns
 The keys
• Listening as well as talking
• Engaging with what is being said
• Making eye contact
• Encouraging through sounds and gestures
• Asking open-ended questions
• Knowing enough to ask the supplementaries
• Interrupting fearlessly to clarify, not to
make your own point
 The good questions
• Will be determined by the reason for the
interview
• The research you have done
• Your ability to really listen
• Lack of pre-conceived angles
• Fearlessness in the face of hostility
• Assurance that quotes will be properly used
 About quotes
• A vital ingredient of journalism
• Adds authority, drama, colloquial voice
• Generally, they are supposed to be used
verbatim, when important
• However, they can be “tidied up”
grammatically or carried as indirect speech
• The reverse can never be done
• Never change the emphasis as that could
alter the meaning
 Which is best?
• Telephone, email or fax

• Face to face
 Off the record
• To be effective, this must be understood by
both reporter and interviewee. It cannot be
presumed or left hanging
• A subject cannot decide at the end of an
interview that everything is off the record
• Off the record can still be used, as
unattributed material, but that is still a
choice you make