Interviewing

InterviewingOn Camera, How to Report Anchor & InterviewBy. Nance ReladonFocal Press.1two basicHard News Interviews and Soft Interviews.

2InterviewsThe Hard News Interviews tend to be direct, informational and almost always done on tape. Soft Interviews are done with live guests or features on tape. These tend to be non confrontational, emotional and comfortable.3STEPPrepare, Communicate, Listen4PrepareIn all cases, you must prepare. You must do your homework and be prepared to discuss any aspect of your subjects interest or life.If he or she wrote a book, read it. If someone wrote a book or article about your guest, read that too.5ResearchWhere do you do your research? Where do you dig up the information you need?6CommunicateIn all cases, whether a live interview or taped, whether hard news or soft, communication must take place. You must connect with your subject. You should stay interested.7ListenHow will you become a great interviewer? By becoming a great listener. There is no greater compliment that you can give a person than to listen to what he or she is telling you. Listen with enthusiasm and interest.8Intonations and SilenceThe intonations of the interviewee can be as important as body language. Listen for the hesitations and silences.9Be PoliteEven in the most aggressive, confrontational interview you have, be polite. Even if your guest is being rude to you or others, be polite.10Hard News InterviewsConfrontational Interview A news interview that is usually a sit down interview conducted politely but with a strong point of view.Ambush Interview A confrontational interview when the subject will not agree to an interview and has been avoiding you11Soft News InterviewsSoft Newsmaker Interview Interviews of newsworthy people not ordinarily in the news, such as a firefighter hero, or people connected with newsworthy events such as trapped miners.12Relax Your GuestThe more relaxed the guest, the more open he or she will be, and the stronger and more riveting your interview will be.To begin with, you might ask a question about something physical. It tends to relax the interviewee when you ask about something they can see and touch, something thats right in front of them.13Chat Up Your GuestIntroduce your guest to the crew by name. Tell the guest that he or she should ignore these wonderful people, they are used to it.Its an ice breaker, a friendly way to have everyone meet each other and can even get a giggle from the guest.14The All-Important First QuestionThe first question you ask after putting the person at ease should be a great first question: something unexpected, poignant or probinganything but boring. If it is boring, the audience will turn to a different channel and the interviewee will turn off.15The Shape of an InterviewIf you could put the shape of an interview into a picture what would it look like? It would look like an inverted triangle. You must ask the most specific questions at the beginning.You dont want to ask general questions at the start of the interview.16Time Is of the EssenceEspecially in television. So dont waste it. If your guest answers your question with a long answer, you must find an appropriate time to cut in.17Answers That Are Toooo LongThe other danger of allowing a run-on answer is you run the risk of letting the guest control the interview.18Questions That Are Toooo LongJust as answers can be too long, so can questions.Ask tight strong questions. People usually understand what you are asking.

19Anecdotes and StoriesAnecdotes and stories are of vital importance to a great interview.You must get them. Without anecdotes an interview is dull. This is what will rivet your viewer.20Have More Questions Than You Think You Will NeedYou never know when you will have time for an extra question or two.21Where Do You Look When You Are Interviewing?Do you look at the camera or at the interviewee? When you ask a question you should ALWAYS look at the interviewee. Do not look at the camera.The rule is be sure to START the question directly to the interviewee, and to FINISH the question directly to the interviewee22The End of the InterviewGenerally, you dont want to end an interview with We are nearly out of time . . . or We have 15 seconds left, how do you explain that your company lost 12 billion dollars? Its not fair and your viewers will not like you for it.If you are really running out of time, dont ask any more questions but wrap it up gracefully23Checklist Prepare for your interview. Relax your guest. Have a conversation. Listen to your guest. Listen quietly. Keep the energy level up. Ask a worthy first question. Go for stories and anecdotes. Make sure you ask tight questions . . . one at a time. Dont let the guest ramble. Avoid questions that get Yes or No answers. Always be polite24NervesEveryone has had some stage fright. Practicing your material beforehand will help cut it down.25Monotone = BoringIf you hear yourself speaking in a monotone, try changing your pace between thoughts. Also, keep that energy up too.26Know Your AudienceWhen asking, be as clear as possible27Have a Good TimeBe as captivating as you can be. You are on this show because you have something to say that is of interest to the viewer28ANCHORINGThe anchor is the single most important on-camera position in all of television. It is a huge responsibility, an enormous job and wildly rewarding professionally and personally. In many cases, the anchor has become the face of the station or the network.29Anchoring Is a CraftAnchoring the news is a craft built on experience and hard work.Most of the anchors work is done LIVE30CredibilityCredibility is built on years of accurate reporting. The viewer begins to trust you because of your hard work. This trust can be lost in a minute of false reporting.31Who Are You?You have skills, you know how to speak clearly with a modulated voice, you present with more centered energy than you would use if the camera was not present.32How Much Can I Move?Keep your gestures to a minimum; television tends to make small moves larger and they can be distracting33Voice and ReadA warm authoritative voice is essential for a successful anchor. The viewer trusts and feels comfortable with a person who has a rich sounding voice. Think of the people you have come to love to watch on television34SegueThese are words or phrases that take you from one subject to another. The words are used at the start of the next story.MeanwhileAndWellBack homeNow to sports35Relax!An anchor must be relaxed. This comes with confidence. Confidence comes with experience36Dont Forget Reporting and Interviewing SkillsTo be an effective anchor, you should always remain a reporter first.To be a good anchor, the reporter in you must continually reestablish oneself as a working journalist.37Checklist Have a warm, authoritative voice. Be sensitive, alert and in the moment. Have focus and concentration. Find a human connection to the stories. Be thoroughly prepared and in command. Get to the studio early enough to read and understand the stories of the day. Know all the proper pronunciations. Be relaxed. Do your homework. Trust your instincts. Be yourself.38The Hard CopyIts certainly a good idea to go through the copy before you go on live because the more familiar with the copy you are, the better you will do39HeadlinesHeadlines are read at the top of the broadcast, usually only in the news broadcastsThese should be read with punch really drive them home.40OpensAfter the headlines, the broadcast begins with you. You should be connecting with the viewer immediately, really looking through camera.41TEASEThe tease is the copy the anchor reads after completing a news block before the commercial break. This is almost always live, not pre taped.Coming up . . . or Next.. So stay with us.42What Is a Bumper?A bumper literally bumps up against a commercial. Its the spacer between the last story in the block of news and the commercials.It follows the tease.43The UpdateJust before you close the broadcast, be sure to update a major story that was covered extensively in your broadcast, especially if it is an ongoing story44CloseThere is an art to closing the show as well. It should be as warm as your warm open. This is a good-bye. It is what you leave your viewer with, what the viewer will take away.45SmileDont smile AFTER you start to speak, smile just before you begin to tell the story. Remember, the action precedes the word.46BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORIES GOING ON THAT DAYYou must be prepared if you are handed an update during the show.47DONT LOOK DOWN WHEN SPEAKINGLook into the camera in a forthright manner. Eyeball the viewer through the camera48KNOW HOW LOUDLY TO SPEAKYour microphone is close by.49VOICEKnow Your FlawsNow is a good time to ask yourself: What does my voice sound like? You should record something, it doesnt matter what, but a good plan would be to read some copy aloud50Is This You?Your voice should draw the viewer toward it. If you have a high, squeaky, immature voice, or a nasal one, or one that is stuck in the back of your throat, you need to fix it.51BreathingYou need to have enough breath to speak for an extended time without taking lots of short breaths that will chop up your copy and make it difficult to be understood by your viewer.52TensionSo you must learn to relax and to have your breath support your voice in a manner that is as free of tension as possible.53ExercisesIn these exercises, when using your voice or when asked to speak out loud, always do it BIG, LARGE AND LOUD. Do not be embarrassed or shy when doing the exercises.Do not do them for the microphone.54Checklist Practice, practice, practice. Your voice is who you are as much as you looks. Learn your flaws and fix them. Breathe correctly. Relax! Lose tension. Build resonance and correct tones. Find your optimum pitch. Avoid popping Ps, sibilant Ss and glottal Ls. Practice, practice, practice55BROADCAST INTERVIEWINFORMATIONAL : 5 W + 1 H.EMOTIONAL INTERPRETATIVEADVERSARIAL or ACCOUNTABLE

56INFORMATIONALThe purpose of the interview are to provide information to audience about news story or the event. 57EMOTIONALThe aim of the emotional interview is to allow the audience to share in someones personal experience.58INTERPRETATIVETHE INTERPRETATIVE INTERVIEW AIMS TO ANALYSE OR EVALUATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.59ADVERSARIAL and ACCOUNTABLEThe purpose of this interview are to allow someone in authority, or who is responsible for implementing policy or plans, to explain of justify their actions.60