Assignment 1 – understand interview purposes and techniques

Definitions:

- Question types

Open questions – a question that cannot be answered with a yes or no but rather a developed answer  

Closed questions – questions that can only be answered with a direct yes or no answer

Single question – A single question that is given to the interviewee to be answered.

Multiple question – when asking more than one question combined together when questioning the interviewee for example ‘did you consider the impact? Why do you think that is?’

Direct questions – A question, which is straight to the point.

Suggestive questions – A question that is worded in a manner to imply an answer. 

- Interview styling 

Hard news – News that deals with formal or serious topics and events, that is usually presented in a newspaper or television report.

Soft news – also called market–centred journalism merges news and entertainment and is much more light-hearted news on not such serious matters.

Combative – Argumentative style interview, with two diverse opinions.

Light-hearted – Interview which is done with a casual and relaxed approach to make the interviewee feel comfortable.

Entertainment – questions asked are for entertainment purposes to make a show rather than to find out specific information from the person.

Investigative – interview conducted to draw evidence or information from a person

Promotional – interviews conducted to promote something the person is doing to let the public know e.g. artists new album or tour

- Structuring

Confidence building – here the interviewer uses the techniques to build up the interviewee’s confidence so that they feel more relaxed which may lead to them giving more information

Key questions – specific, important questions the interviewer wants to ask to gain certain information.

Sound bites – A short extract from a recorded interview summarising what was said.

- Communication skills

Building rapport - A technique used by the interviewer to gain the trust of the interviewee.  For example in the light hearted hard news interview with Russel Brand and Jeremy Paxman...

Active listening – this is where the interviewer uses the information they have gained from the interview questions they have asked and make new relevant question while keeping calm and collected for the interviewee.

Body language – body language allows the interviewer to understand how the interviewee is feeling and whether or not they are engaged with the questions.