Basic TV Reporting, 2nd Edition

Studio Interviewing (2)

Interview one plus two

Conducting an interview with two people is obviously twice as tricky as with one, chiefly because of the need to play fair by each participant. For even if the two interviewees are theoretically on ‘the same side’, it is important that both should have their say, as much for the sake of good television as for balance. It is not always enough to ask each the same question in turn: this can be far too slow and predictable. The interviewer’s skill comes in being able to pick up one answer and use it to move the subject smoothly forward, so by the end of the allotted time a satisfactory amount of ground has been covered and a range of interviews heard.

Firmness counts

Where the participants have strongly ...