Monday, February 2, 2009

Interview Design Principles

Sydney and Ana

1) Flexibility: To be able to adapt to the answers given. To be able to not feel forced to ask all of your questions in the order they are prepared. But rather ask questions to go more in depth within a topic.

Professional Published Example: Matt Lauer Interview with Michael Moore.

Lauer: "The Weinstein brothers of Miramax bought the film back. And now Harvey Weinstein is a Democratic organizer. He does fund-raisers for John Kerry."

Moore: "Yeah."

Lauer: "And you've hired a couple of seasoned Clinton politicos to handle publicity and marketing for the film. So at this stage on, will you concede, it is now a sharply political movie with a very definitive point of view."

Moore: "It definitely has a point of view, that's absolutely correct. But I'm not a member of the Democratic Party. If you know anything about me, anybody who's followed me, I'm the anti-Democrat. I have railed against the Democrats for a long time. They have been a weak-kneed, wimpy party that hasn't stood up to the Republicans. They let the working people down across this country. I rallied against Clinton when he was in office. I didn't vote for him in ‘96. I didn't vote for Gore in 2000. This is not a partisan issue with me, this is not me trying to –"

2) Personable: To be able to have a professional interview, using conversation to keep a relaxed environment. Keeping it interesting by talking back and forth instead of a question, then answer, and then new question. Also, let your personality shine throughout the interview.

Professional Published Example: CNN interview with Angelina Jolie.

Damon: There are reports out of Hollywood that... (laughs)

Jolie: Oh don't. Stop it. (Interrupts I had to ask) Stay true to your tradition. You're CNN. Don't do it!

Damon: I know that's why I have to... (Laughs)

Jolie: But I don't have to answer. OK?

Damon: No you don't. I completely and totally ... you're right and will not press the matter.

Jolie: Thank you.

3) Description: Interviewer asks question which lets the interviewee answer descriptively and in detail. From the question asked, the answers provide room for my questions to be asked. The answers also respond to the question fully.

Professional Published Example: CNN interview with Sarah Palin.

CNN: And the plans that you mention take time, you have to go through Congress. If you guys win, you'll both most likely be working with a Democratic Congress. It's gonna be a slow process. What I'm trying to find out from you -- from John McCain as well, day one, people want a difference, to make a difference in the economy, as we're seeing daily, swings in the stock market, houses going foreclosed on --

Palin: Mm-hmm. Well, day one, you bring in everyone around that table, too, you bring in the congressional leadership, and, assuming that there will be, certainly, Democrats, at that table, that's good, too, these are gonna be bipartisan approaches that must be taken, I have that executive experience also having formed a cabinet up there in Alaska that, you know, we've got independents and Democrats and Republicans whom I have appointed to our administrative positions to that, we have the best of ideas coming together in order to best serve the people. John McCain, too, he's been known as the maverick to take on his own party when need be, to reach over the aisle and work with the other party also. Now, Barack Obama has not been able to do that, he's gone with, what is it, 96 percent of the time with Democrat leadership. Not having that, I think, ability or willingness to work with the other side. So as an executive, we need to create that team that is full of good ideas and not let obsessive partisanship get in the way, as we start taking the measures to shore up our economy, which already Congress is working on with the rescue package, with some of the bailout packages, the provisions in there that can work, too, but it's gonna take everybody working together.

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