TV news reporters over talking people they are interviewing
Discussion
It seems to be something that is becoming standard practice these days in that political news reporters when interviewing politicians, will ask questions then talk over any replies not giving them a chance to answer properly or the opportunity to wriggle out of it. The BBC, ITN and Channel 5 news are all guilty of this and it really annoys me.
The Scottish news reporter this morning on BBC breakfast was particularly aggressive in her interviewing technique and already forcefully asking the next question well before the previous one has been answered.
I take that they have been schooled to use this style and politicians are coached in how to deal with it but I never noticed it as being commonplace beforehand as it maybe was a bit more subtlety done.
Seems pointless to me to get someone on to comment about something then bombard them with more questions without really any interest in the answers.
Who's the worst/ best at doing this depending on how you see it?
The Scottish news reporter this morning on BBC breakfast was particularly aggressive in her interviewing technique and already forcefully asking the next question well before the previous one has been answered.
I take that they have been schooled to use this style and politicians are coached in how to deal with it but I never noticed it as being commonplace beforehand as it maybe was a bit more subtlety done.
Seems pointless to me to get someone on to comment about something then bombard them with more questions without really any interest in the answers.
Who's the worst/ best at doing this depending on how you see it?
LordGrover said:
I'm usually on the other side; politicians steadfastly ignoring the question that's been asked, and launching off on whatever topic they prepared for. Interviewers must talk over the non-answer to re-ask the original question.
This. It's an arms race against politicians who only go on the news to get their message out and journalists who will reduce your interview to a single sentence for a good headline. Been going on for years:, hence stuff like thisMilliband:
https://youtu.be/lRHZOL9O0UQ
Howard:
https://youtu.be/pyqnu6ywhR4
Edited by glazbagun on Thursday 23 April 08:29
LordGrover said:
I'm usually on the other side; politicians steadfastly ignoring the question that's been asked, and launching off on whatever topic they prepared for. Interviewers must talk over the non-answer to re-ask the original question.
That's what I was going to say. The TV people cant win, it seems.That Michael Howard interview was a classic example of trying every possible way of not answering the question. The fact he went to those lengths surely made it worse for him and let viewers make their own mind up if he was really telling it as it was.
Paxman though, gave him multiple opportunities to answer without over talking him and his technique worked brilliantly
Paxman though, gave him multiple opportunities to answer without over talking him and his technique worked brilliantly
It's been happening for a while. The likes of Derbyshire and Maitliss are the worst examples. Truly awful.
Andrew Neill was the best of the bunch at putting politicians on the spot and not letting them wriggle. I rated Kirsty Wark too - interesting both were sidelined...
I have no issue with interviewers pulling the politicians back on topic. But when it strays beyond that, just no.
I'd also wish interviewers would be way more sensible about the questions they are asking. They get on a lowly education minister and then ask why we don't have warships stationed somewhere (during a piece that has sod all to do with that). How they can expect anything other than boilerplate crap answers I do not know.
In both the cases of policitians and journalists, however, we (the public) get what we deserve.
Andrew Neill was the best of the bunch at putting politicians on the spot and not letting them wriggle. I rated Kirsty Wark too - interesting both were sidelined...
I have no issue with interviewers pulling the politicians back on topic. But when it strays beyond that, just no.
I'd also wish interviewers would be way more sensible about the questions they are asking. They get on a lowly education minister and then ask why we don't have warships stationed somewhere (during a piece that has sod all to do with that). How they can expect anything other than boilerplate crap answers I do not know.
In both the cases of policitians and journalists, however, we (the public) get what we deserve.
LordGrover said:
^^ In a similar vein to Andrew Neill, Kate McCann on Times Radio breakfast can be quite tenacious. I've been impressed by her dogged determination on several occasions - and she remains calm and pleasant throughout.
Kate McCann's sexist accusation at Jenrick was terrible - correlation so therefore causation. I've not found them (Stig) pressing as late, maybe the've toned it down a notch for some reason The standard of Political Debate is in the gutter.
This was 1975:
https://youtu.be/CuZrzwm6CJs?si=jlGmrTW1h9Xy4L1y
This was broadcast in its entirety on terrestrial TV in the EU referendum in 1975. A two hour Oxford Union debate with leading politicians of the time:
https://youtu.be/3BRStl8-0Xw?si=YCIjN1rv5bjZqKE1
A completely different level to the dreadful standard of today. I blame the media.
This was 1975:
https://youtu.be/CuZrzwm6CJs?si=jlGmrTW1h9Xy4L1y
This was broadcast in its entirety on terrestrial TV in the EU referendum in 1975. A two hour Oxford Union debate with leading politicians of the time:
https://youtu.be/3BRStl8-0Xw?si=YCIjN1rv5bjZqKE1
A completely different level to the dreadful standard of today. I blame the media.
Politicians are trained not to answer questions where the answer is not what they want to say. Journos job is to ask questions the public wants answered. These two points of view often conflict. Politicians have, on occasion, walked out of interviews. If they do it too early, they look scared; too late and the public can see what it is, a way of avoiding answering the questions put to them, just like all the others.
gazza285 said:
Sarah Montague is fantastic on World At One, lets people speak, then spears them quite clinically.
Yep she's a true pro and always a delight to listen to.Emma Barnett for the BBC breakfast show on R4 can be a bit feisty - sometimes unreasonably so. That said she's respectful and doesn't talk over.
It is a clear skill, but often these people have a producer or director in their ear pushing them to say things, but a proper journo would ignore this and read the room.
I have interviewed people and find it an interesting thing to do, but I have never had to push anyone for a comment or quote, which is all this is about let's face it, they are just pushing for a yes I did this headline, that is tomorrows chip paper.
Most political journalism is farcical anyway, which is why people tend to treat it like we do with most politics, utter hogwash
I have interviewed people and find it an interesting thing to do, but I have never had to push anyone for a comment or quote, which is all this is about let's face it, they are just pushing for a yes I did this headline, that is tomorrows chip paper.
Most political journalism is farcical anyway, which is why people tend to treat it like we do with most politics, utter hogwash
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