Famous Interview

This is the Famous Interview of Tom Cruise by Oprah

Tricking a last resort?

I recently read two articles that explore the notion of tricking subjects in an interview environment to share information they do not want to.

One article i read was from the Campus Weblines Website and states tricking in an interview as a desperate last resort;

Trying to trick people into telling you things they shouldn’t is almost always a recipe for disaster. There are occasions for relying on subterfuge and misdirection in gaining information, but they are few and are always the absolutely last resort. Any dishonesty in reporting – which includes misleading your source both by not stating clearly what the article is about as well as by not identifying yourself as a reporter – cheapens and diminishes whatever article you get. If you think a straightforward approach won’t work, get advice from your editors and your faculty adviser.

Comparetively, the other article i read which was from the International Journalist Network Website condones tricking the subject in an interview to gain information they are trying to hide at all costs, simply stating

If they trick you, trick them back

I personally agree with the first article from the Campus Weblines website in regards to this issue of tricking subjects in an interview. However i am only in the early stages of my Journalist career so my opinions may change.

Tricks of the Trade

Journalists, especially early in their careers can easily be tricked or decieved by their interviewees if they are inexperienced, however if the interviewer also knows the tricks of the trade they are able to turn around every bit of opposition the subject throws at them.

I recently read an article on the International Journalist Network website which explores these tricks that can be pulled on interviewees if they are refusing to cooperate;

When interviewees take an aggressive posture by denouncing the press in general (e.g., “Can’t you ever get quotes right?” or “You people are only interested in bad news and in getting people.”), try to keep calm, let them vent their hostility and then proceed courteously with the interview.When an interviewee turns the question around and seeks to interview you, the journalist (“What do you think?” or “What would you do?”), you can reply, “I’m sure our readers are much more interested in your opinion on that.”When an interviewee tries to go off the record, you can explain the need for attribution and urge that the material be placed on the record for the sake of credibility, or return to the subject later with a rephrased or related question to get the information on the record. You also may flatly refuse to take off-the-record information.

Researching and Performing Dont Mix

Recently when I was interviewing the Mayor of the Kiama Council, Sandra McCarthy, I found it difficult to sustain a comfortable interview environment in which i could obtain the best information from her due to my inexperience. Before this interview I had never interviewed someone in my life, so I wasn’t sure what to expect or how to prepare for it. Since reading Chris Frost’s article on interviewing I have discovered where i went wrong. Frost states:

Many young and inexperienced reporters fall into the trap of believing that a research interview is the same as the performance (interview) and that a hectoring, intrusive manner is required. This is likely to lose you the interviewee very quickly and will certainly not encourage them to tell you anything useful. (Frost, Reporting for Journalists)

Frost highlights the two different forms of interviews being a research interview and a performance interview usually used for broadcast. I now know where I went wrong, I was trying to incorporate both types of interviews into one making my interview structure scattered. Now that I know this I will hopefully become a better, more confident interviewer in the future..