Chapter 7 Discussion Questions

1. Explain the essential role of the interview in video stories.
To gather facts, but an equivalent obligation is to reveal the person being interviewed.

2. Discuss ways that will help you establish trust with an interview source.
 A brief chat over coffee, but it can never happen unless you have a genuine interest in people and have the self-confidence to reveal something of yourself. If you are afraid to approach people as you launch your interviewing career, remember that most people feel flattered to be on TV even if they seem nervous at first.

3. What personal conduct and manners are important to observe whenever you are in someone else's home or office?
Arrive on time and take leave before you wear out your welcome. Leave the chewing gum at home, and refrain from sitting unless you are invited. Be friendly, but not overly familiar.

5. Discuss ways to help put the interview at ease.
Interviewees are more at ease if they can focus on familiar work and surroundings than if they are forced to focus on themselves, their appearance, or their performance during the interview. Often you can interview people while they're engaged in familiar activities rather than standing them in front of a blank wall and thrusting a stick mike in their face.

6. Why is it important not to reveal the questions you intend to ask until the actual interview begins?
To help preserve the feeling of spontaneity, try not to share questions in advance of the interview. That's because subjects ordinarily put most of their energy into their first response. Once the camera rolls they may leave out the details because having told you once, they assume you already know what they said.

8. Explain why research and planning are so important to the interview process.
The more you know about your source, the more confidence you give the person and the more you can concentrate on listening without having to worry about the next question you'll ask. Anyone can ask anyone else's questions, but the interviewer can succeed only by asking informed questions that are based on knowing everything possible about the subject.

11. What constitutes a "dumb" interview question?
"How do you feel?" The question is asked of grieving parents, air crash survivors, and losers of football games. Perhaps the question is inappropriate because the answer normally is so obvious "I feel like hell/sad/miserable/alone/scared/angry."