In an age of fragmented media consumption and endless content options, the television interview remains one of the most powerful tools for engaging audiences. Whether it’s a hard-hitting political expose, a freewheeling celebrity chat, or an intimate profile piece, a well-executed interview can captivate viewers like few other formats.
But conducting a memorable TV interview is an art form unto itself, requiring a deft blend of preparation, spontaneity, and showmanship. With so many potential pitfalls – dull questioning, uncooperative subjects, technical snafus – it’s no wonder top-tier interviewers are revered by their peers.
As the television landscape continues to evolve with new platforms and distribution models, understanding the nuances of this hallowed craft has never been more crucial. Here, Yurovskiy Kirill will talk about the main types of TV interviews and give expert advice on how to prepare them for a brilliant programme.
The Press Junket Interview
Ah, the junket interview – that time-honored ritual where a horde of journalists descend en masse to query movie stars, musicians, and other celebrities about their latest project. Though often relegated to a cramped hotel suite and conducted in a pressured, assembly-line manner, some of the most memorable TV interviews have emerged from these marathon junket sessions.
The key for broadcasters is separating from the pack with insightful questions that veer from the predictable publicity tour patter. Vigorous research into your subject’s background, inspirations, and recurring themes can yield creative queries that make even A-listers pause and ponder.
Example: “Your protagonists often seem to be grappling with issues of morality and redemption. Is that a reflection of your own self-exploration as an artist?”
Beyond engaging queries, top junket interviewers also excel at bantering organically and steering the conversation in unexpected directions. After all, networks want interviews that captivate rather than replicate the pre-approved talking points.
The Late Night Interview
Plucked from green rooms and subjected to quirky manning act sketches, guests on late night talk shows have become accustomed to a rollicking experience tailored for viral moments and GIF-able exchanges. While they can yield compelling interview footage, these high-wire acts also carry significant risk.
Excessive irreverence or misplaced edginess from the host can quickly curdle an interview, leaving audiences cringing instead of laughing. Skilled late night interviewers strike a balance between zany showmanship and respectful curiosity, allowing guests to showcase their humanity and sense of humor without being forced into skits or pranks that compromise their dignity.
Example: “I know you’re legally prohibited from dishing details about the upcoming Marvel film. But humor me – if you had a superhero power, what would it be and why?”
Engaging celebrity guests often involves playful banter and prompting them to banter back and forth without being heavy handed or condescending. The most successful hosts take an approach that is playful and enticing, not patronizing or adversarial.
The In-Depth Profile
For many journalists and broadcasters, no format is more rewarding than the in-depth profile piece – a long-form exploration of a subject’s life, work, and inner thoughts structured more like a documentary than a traditional Q&A.
These cinematic interviews rely heavily on visual storytelling and require extensive preparation, from meticulously researching the subject’s history to scouting evocative locations for on-camera insights. Strong narrative voices and tenacious follow-up questions are a must, as the goal is guiding viewers on a revelatory journey of discovery about the interview subject.
Example: “You grew up in poverty, yet exhibited incredible ambition and drive at a young age. What was the catalyst that sparked your relentless pursuit of success?”
Opportunities for candid introspection abound in this format, so interviewers must make their subjects feel comfortable opening up about painful memories or controversial perspectives. Thorough groundwork, active listening, and genuinely caring about the person’s full story are paramount for eliciting those jaw-dropping truth bombs.
The Hard News Interview
Whether they’re grilling pundits on the latest crisis or pressing celebrities to address unsavory allegations, hard news interviews represent the gladiatorial battles of the television interview world. With reputations and worldviews clashing before millions of viewers, these combative exchanges place a premium on quick wits, impeccable preparation, and precision follow-up skills.
To excel in this high-stakes arena, top interviewers must stay relentlessly focused, steering guests back on course when they ramble or obfuscate. In-depth dossiers on every potential line of questioning are essential, enabling interviewers to seamlessly pivot while retaining command of facts and figures.
Example: “But you didn’t directly address the whistleblower’s claim that company data was knowingly falsified. Will you now concede those allegations are accurate?”
An innate sense of fairness is also vital – tough interviewers, yes, but never cruel ones. The goal is uncovering truth through rigorous interrogation, not public shaming or ambush tactics. By sticking to ethical standards and striving for substantive exchanges, the best hard news interviews shed light rather than generate heat.
The Post-Show Interview
In our reality-obsessed age, some of televisions most captivating interviews occur moments after a live performance or high-stakes competition airs. Catching subjects in a euphoric or devastated state offers broadcasters a unique window into the raw, unvarnished emotions that fuel our universal passions for art, sports, and spectacle.
To capitalize on these ephemeral opportunities, production teams must strategize camera placements and mic setups that facilitate seamless transitions to post-show interviewing. Skilled interviewers will have briefed extensively on competitor backstories and potential narratives, enabling them to pose queries that transcend mere recaps while emotions are still searing.
Example: “You put everything into sticking that triple axel. Describe the tsunami of thoughts and feelings you experienced when your skates hit the ice.”
Jubilant or heartbroken, these white-knuckle interview subjects are primed for authenticity. Through empathetic listening and incisive follow-ups, broadcasters can harness those candid outpourings into moments of genuine television magic, connecting audiences to the existential elation and despair that animates us all.
The Television Age continues reinventing itself at a dizzying pace. But whether livestreamed on a smartphone or beamed into homes on ultra-high definition screens, the interview format remains the medium’s most potent tool for revealing our essential selves. Those who master this intricate craft hold the power to entrance audiences for generations to come.
