The chances of achieving success in all of the most successful projects can be often be attributed to proper preparation. In the world of sport, its fair to say, the longer a sports person spends time practicing their particular sport and preparing properly for an event, the chances of being successful in that event often increases. There are parallels with the world of radio.
Preparation is Paramount
Before even thinking of a potential interview topic or contacting a potential interviewee or picking up a telephone to set up an interview, the programme maker could consider a number of avenues of research to determine:
- Interested media including radio that may provide an outlet for the interview
- The potential or possible audience
- The interests and concerns of that audience
- The availability and practicalities of contacting interviewees
- The relevance of the subject, the accessibility of research and the interviewees’ knowledge
- Any additional possible sources of research, the web, libraries, company information, word of mouth etc.
There may be a number of reasons an interview becomes either essential or even desirable. It may be a project or a programme on its own merits or a significant contributor to an already planned programme. The interview is one of the cornerstones of radio broadcasting and provides an exceptionally smooth way of bringing human interaction and contact into a medium otherwise controlled by an all too often one-dimensional presenter.
Before Contacting the Interview Subject
The interviewer before even thinking about asking for an interview or arranging an interview should first decide:
- The most suitable subjects for the interview
- Why the person or persons are being interviewed
- When the interview is planned to take place, or a deadline date
- How to contact the interviewee
And before making any contact, either by telephone of in person:
- Rehearse the call or the meeting
- Finalise the objectives of the interview request
- Write down the interviewee’s name, any important facts from research and objectives in a logical order
- Be prepared to call back or re-arrange the meeting
- The object of the call or the meeting is to get the potential interviewee to agree to the interview. To get a ‘yes,’ and once the subject has agreed to be interview in whatever the format a number of different options present themselves.
The Different Types of Interview.
Varying styles of interview may be more appropriate for different types of both subject matter and the person being interviewed. The reason for the interview is generally NEVER for the benefit of either the person who has set-up and arranged the interview nor for the person who has agreed to be interviewed but always certainly in the world of radio, for the benefit of the listener.
For the subject matter to be entertaining or informative or both in audio terms it is always worth considering the best format and place for the recording. This may be dictated by necessity or practicality, but often consideration of the different types sets the interview in the correct context.
- Vox Pops. A snap shot of public opinion where various members of the public are asked usually the same question to canvas their views.
- The Expert interview: a person knowledgeable on the subject is asked their views or to explain the subject in more simple terms.
- The Personality Interview: A big name or celebrity is interviewed about themselves to provide biographical detail of recent or past events.
- The Eyewitness interview: very common in news reporting, someone who as at the event or on the scene at the time of the event.
- Interviewed By connection: a person with a link however remote to either an event or another person is interviewed largely and only because of their connection.
- Commentary Interview: Interviewee is asked their views, or to state their opinions or offer an explanation as an expression of views: often used in the political arena.
The type of interview dictates the style that an interviewee, and consequently often the subject, adopts and can vary from confrontational to friendly, quiet to aggressive. Each should be appropriate to that style. It’s not often for example that political interviews are friendly and whimsical.
Listen
Bearing in mind all the above a good radio interview properly prepared contains two essential elements more than any other. Good research and a Good listener.
 |
