Unit 36: Interview Techniques for Creative Media Production
There are a number of different channels that involve professional interviews but no channel is the same, as they all have their own styles and brand identity, they can differ in lots of different ways from mise en scene, to news styling, interview styling etc.
For the example I will analyse a news interview, a radio interview and a game show, to show how the professional interviews exhibit very different styles.
For the example I will analyse a news interview, a radio interview and a game show, to show how the professional interviews exhibit very different styles.
BBC News feature on will Rio benefit from Olympics legacy:
This report was presented by a field reporter, a news member that present stories out of the studio rather than in, they go out to a relevent location to present the feature. In this example the reporter has gone to the capital of Brazill in Rio, they go to quite a few locations in Rio as they are reporting and interveiwng different people, but they all relate to the location.
The interview techniques used mainly in this report are open questions, meaning a statement can be given regarding the question or any answer can be given (open). Also multiple questions are used as it is a series of questions related to that topic (in this case Rio) so a question then a question regarding the answer or another about that topic.
Although you see the field reporter you do not see him directly ask questions, instead it starts with a statement and follows with the person being interviewed answering the question relating to the statement the reporter has made.
You can tell these are sound bites by the way it has been edited and cut, they use this to get the answers that they desire.
This interview style is hard news with themes of investigative style also, as they are looking into the fact that, organisers have faced criticism that they have failed to keep to their key promises.
Hard news is a serious style often taken towards a serious issue, they are trying to uncover information that will shock and surprise and not entertain.
Investigative style as you can see in the example is very objective and intends to find the truth about the issue/subject being raised, whilst looking at all the facts. Another thing to notice is that the interviewer has most likely asked straightforward questions and does not try to manipulate the interviewee, this is a key part in this interview style.
This report was presented by a field reporter, a news member that present stories out of the studio rather than in, they go out to a relevent location to present the feature. In this example the reporter has gone to the capital of Brazill in Rio, they go to quite a few locations in Rio as they are reporting and interveiwng different people, but they all relate to the location.
The interview techniques used mainly in this report are open questions, meaning a statement can be given regarding the question or any answer can be given (open). Also multiple questions are used as it is a series of questions related to that topic (in this case Rio) so a question then a question regarding the answer or another about that topic.
Although you see the field reporter you do not see him directly ask questions, instead it starts with a statement and follows with the person being interviewed answering the question relating to the statement the reporter has made.
You can tell these are sound bites by the way it has been edited and cut, they use this to get the answers that they desire.
This interview style is hard news with themes of investigative style also, as they are looking into the fact that, organisers have faced criticism that they have failed to keep to their key promises.
Hard news is a serious style often taken towards a serious issue, they are trying to uncover information that will shock and surprise and not entertain.
Investigative style as you can see in the example is very objective and intends to find the truth about the issue/subject being raised, whilst looking at all the facts. Another thing to notice is that the interviewer has most likely asked straightforward questions and does not try to manipulate the interviewee, this is a key part in this interview style.
Other interview techniques that we do not see in this example are:
. Light-hearted styles where interviews are for entertainment purposes, these interviews are usually never aggressive or the questions do not touch on a delicate topic. You would see this style on celebrity chat shows.
. Promotional styles where an artist releases something, we may see a new promotional interview to indorse their film or song etc., the questions asked would be inoffensive or intrude on the personal side of the interviewees life.
The structuring of this interview started off with a small introduction talking about Rio and then stating a fact and the introduction ends on claim, it then goes to an interview showing one person opinion on that topic, then it goes into developmental questions that lead up to key questions and sound bites, a piece to camera is then used and it’s wrapped up by a more open and explained interview with an official and then soundbite of the reporter talking over a birds eye tracking shot concluding the investigation.
Combative style where it’s an aggressive interview style towards the interviewee. It’s a quite usual interview style, used when the interviewee is not keen to reveal info. This style of interviewing puts the interviewee under pressure and manipulates them to give out more information than they would originally not have done.
The communication skills that was used in this interview was the reporter was building rapport with one of the locals he was interviewing as he was able to tell her story. The majority of interviewers use it to build a relationship to help both themselves and the interview feel confident so that they can ask more personal questions.
The body language used were very professional and slightly reserved yet open as this was a formal interview this gives of visual code so that the audience can trust what the reporter and others are saying. Lots of facts and obtaining people views and opinions was used through the interview.
. Light-hearted styles where interviews are for entertainment purposes, these interviews are usually never aggressive or the questions do not touch on a delicate topic. You would see this style on celebrity chat shows.
. Promotional styles where an artist releases something, we may see a new promotional interview to indorse their film or song etc., the questions asked would be inoffensive or intrude on the personal side of the interviewees life.
The structuring of this interview started off with a small introduction talking about Rio and then stating a fact and the introduction ends on claim, it then goes to an interview showing one person opinion on that topic, then it goes into developmental questions that lead up to key questions and sound bites, a piece to camera is then used and it’s wrapped up by a more open and explained interview with an official and then soundbite of the reporter talking over a birds eye tracking shot concluding the investigation.
Combative style where it’s an aggressive interview style towards the interviewee. It’s a quite usual interview style, used when the interviewee is not keen to reveal info. This style of interviewing puts the interviewee under pressure and manipulates them to give out more information than they would originally not have done.
The communication skills that was used in this interview was the reporter was building rapport with one of the locals he was interviewing as he was able to tell her story. The majority of interviewers use it to build a relationship to help both themselves and the interview feel confident so that they can ask more personal questions.
The body language used were very professional and slightly reserved yet open as this was a formal interview this gives of visual code so that the audience can trust what the reporter and others are saying. Lots of facts and obtaining people views and opinions was used through the interview.
The interview techniques used in this interview are more of a range. There is a lot of open questions some of the open questions are funnelled for example the radio presenter describes what Lady Gaga is wearing and he says “talk to us about it”. There were assumptive questions asking about when her next album will be out etc.
The interviewing style is a lot different to the News one, this is because of two things, one the platform of media where the interview is taking place, this interview is in a radio station, so it has two audiences the people watching and the people just listening.
This style is promotional as they are promoting the artist’s new album/single. It is also light-hearted and very entertaining and humours there are no hard hitting topics.
The structuring of this interview starts with the introduction where the presenter introduces and tells the audience who they are with. They start of with small talk, setting the tone, establishing rapport, and providing a personal connection between themselves and the interviewee. In the middle of the interview it’s more open and humours the developmental questions turn into key questions as one-on-one information is exchanged. They wrap the interview up with a small game to entertain the audience and themselves and then thank Lady Gaga for being on the show.
The communication skills that are used in this interview are skills such as building rapport to create a connection so both interview and interviewee are comfortable asking how they are etc.; active listening was key to gather information to ask or elaborate on the answers given. The body language was quite open and relaxed, as it was informal.
The interviewing style is a lot different to the News one, this is because of two things, one the platform of media where the interview is taking place, this interview is in a radio station, so it has two audiences the people watching and the people just listening.
This style is promotional as they are promoting the artist’s new album/single. It is also light-hearted and very entertaining and humours there are no hard hitting topics.
The structuring of this interview starts with the introduction where the presenter introduces and tells the audience who they are with. They start of with small talk, setting the tone, establishing rapport, and providing a personal connection between themselves and the interviewee. In the middle of the interview it’s more open and humours the developmental questions turn into key questions as one-on-one information is exchanged. They wrap the interview up with a small game to entertain the audience and themselves and then thank Lady Gaga for being on the show.
The communication skills that are used in this interview are skills such as building rapport to create a connection so both interview and interviewee are comfortable asking how they are etc.; active listening was key to gather information to ask or elaborate on the answers given. The body language was quite open and relaxed, as it was informal.
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The interview techniques used are mainly direct questions/closed questions when actually playing the game, this part is formal and to the point.
The interview styling is entertainment and light hearted and also informative/factual due to the questions being asked from the game as it is a quiz show.
The structure starts of with a piece to camera of the presenter talking to the audience asking a question and saying “let’s find out”, which then leads into the interviewees introducing themselves, the presenter starts to build a rapport with the contestants by making conversation with them using open questions, then goes back to being formal with direct questions when playing the game.
In the middle part of the show it mixes between being in a serious tone, to a lighter hearted tone when the presenter talks to the interviewee about their choice. The presenters body language is professional as well as open, they look smart which adds to the serious tone but the humorous side of the presenter adds the light-heartedness’ aspect of the interviews. Active listening plays a key part as they both parts need to listen to each other to obtain the answers given etc. The ending is more formal, the presenter comments on how well they played their game and congratulates them all and then asks the chaser to give feedback to the contestants, and it is wrapped up by the presenter doing a piece to camera saying goodbye directly to the audience.
The interview styling is entertainment and light hearted and also informative/factual due to the questions being asked from the game as it is a quiz show.
The structure starts of with a piece to camera of the presenter talking to the audience asking a question and saying “let’s find out”, which then leads into the interviewees introducing themselves, the presenter starts to build a rapport with the contestants by making conversation with them using open questions, then goes back to being formal with direct questions when playing the game.
In the middle part of the show it mixes between being in a serious tone, to a lighter hearted tone when the presenter talks to the interviewee about their choice. The presenters body language is professional as well as open, they look smart which adds to the serious tone but the humorous side of the presenter adds the light-heartedness’ aspect of the interviews. Active listening plays a key part as they both parts need to listen to each other to obtain the answers given etc. The ending is more formal, the presenter comments on how well they played their game and congratulates them all and then asks the chaser to give feedback to the contestants, and it is wrapped up by the presenter doing a piece to camera saying goodbye directly to the audience.