Comments on: Become an Expert Interviewer — Fast

By: Michael Madden

Michael Madden — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:46:22 +0000

Thanks for the tips.

It’s abundantly clear that many journalists, pod/vodcasters and most interviewers haven’t taken the necessary time to hone the craft of interviewing.

Look no further than the Terry Gross example cited in #4. After doing her background research, what question did she pose to Johnny Cash?

“Did it take a lot of nerve to make that phone call?”

What does example #3 in this article tell us to avoid?

“Don’t pose questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.”

Framed in the way Gross posed that question, what else BESIDES a yes or no response would’ve sufficed..unless Cash took it upon himself to help her out.

By: Entreprenews of the Week -- Young Go Getter

Entreprenews of the Week -- Young Go Getter — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:41:01 +0000

[...] Become an Expert Interviewer — Fast A good portion of bloggers interview others at some point in their blogging career, or are interviewed themselves. Add this list to the top of your bookmarks and pull it up when the cue and eh sessions arise. [...]

By: Dian

Dian — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:49:35 +0000

John,
I don’t think Heidi meant for interviewers to show off their knowledge — any such suggestion was simply my interpretation. Her point was to get subjects to talk about more than the surface topics that any simpleton would ask about. That particular example surfaced in the Gross interview in the proper context. She’d already asked questions about Cash’s move to Memphis. But if she hadn’t known about Elvis’ recording or hadn’t know that Cash had called Phillips for an audition, she wouldn’t have known to ask a question that drilled down on a very human topic: How do you get up the gumption to perform an act that might change your very future or might make you look like the biggest idiot alive?

By: Become an Expert Interviewer Fast | The Music Press Report

Become an Expert Interviewer Fast | The Music Press Report — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:53:56 +0000

[...] More… [...]

By: Base Camp Communications

Base Camp Communications — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:07:27 +0000

[...] Become an expert interviewer — Fast. Filed under: PR Bits | Trackback | [...]

By: Heidi Miller

Heidi Miller — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:23:02 +0000

Thanks for the excellent summary! I’m glad you found it useful–sometimes advice from the non-experts (those of us who’ve made a LOT of mistakes) is a good thing, I guess!

Tracking back.

By: links for 2007-10-17 | ChillyCool Web Digger

links for 2007-10-17 | ChillyCool Web Digger — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:21:14 +0000

[...] Become an Expert Interviewer — Fast « Web Worker Daily Great list of 10 interviewing tips – they’re so simple, you’ll think they should have been obvious. [...]

By: Daily Links | Akkam's Razor

Daily Links | Akkam's Razor — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:22:44 +0000

[...] Become an Expert Interviewer — Fast « Web Worker Daily At some point in your Web career — whether as blogger, podcaster or vodcaster — it’s likely you’ll find yourself in the position of interviewing others. (tags: writing blogging interview interviews journalism) [...]

By: John Handelaar

John Handelaar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:46:12 +0000

“4. Let your research show in the way you pose your questions.”

A truly, truly awful piece of advice, whose example demonstrates its awfulness. Translates directly to “make sure everyone, including your interviewee, knows just how very clever you are and how this interview is all about you”.

It also results in bad interviews: you and your interview subject are wanking over things which wouldn’t come out if you hadn’t done the in-depth research. Who’s left on the sidelines wondering WTF you’re talking about? Yup – that click you heard was the listener or viewer switching channels.

Be knowledgeable enough about the subject to not ask stupid questions, sure. But exclude your audience and you’re toast.