Today I’m meeting with a reporter from The Post & Courier. She’s doing an article on “blogging.” The subject of the interview seems a little vague, but a friend assures me it’s because she doesn’t have enough information to pinpoint the direction her article will take.
Who wants to take bets on how quickly I can put my foot in my mouth? Five minutes? Ten? Regardless of how it goes, I felt the situation warranted a sitter and I get to escape for a couple of hours. That’s worth public humiliation, right? We’re meeting in neutral territory, just in case she’s pretending to be a reporter and is actually an axe wielding psychopath who lures victims with their own narcissim.
9 comments ↓
ooo fun 🙂
I did a phone interview with a reporter from The State about blogging last year. I think I even got quoted in the article somewhere.
have fun with the interview 🙂
I met her on Monday and we talked for an hour on a pretty wide variety of blogging topics. It went very well, and I’m sure you’ll do fine. 🙂
J
I’m so jealous. 🙁
I wish axe-wielding psychopaths would call me. I never get out of the house anymore.
April
http://www.meretrice.com
I, too, met with the lovely Lucia, and am sure that I said nothing of value. Like you, I was, and am, concerned about the direction the story will take. She did not reveal much of her angle or her experience, striving, I suppose, to be impartial and objective.
I met with her last week, and I didn’t feel very good about the interview.
She did ask me if I knew more African American bloggers which made me wonder why I got interviewed in the first place and made me feel vaugely offended.
I thought I was chosen because I have a cool blog and stuff.
Dealing with the press is a skill, and I’ve been on both sides of the notebook. For both sides, the important thing is clarity. The reporter needs to be sure what he/she hears is what was intended; the subject of the interview needs to make sure his or her message is being properly received.
The best tool for both these purposes is the paraphrase follow-up.
From the reporter: “So, what I’m hearing you say is (restate the ideas in summary).”
Or, from the interview subject (after answering a question): “So, how would you sum up what I just told you?”
I’ll give y’all some background, because I don’t see any reason to be less than transparent on this: I pitched a story about local blogs to Lucia’s boss and I based it on two news pegs: 1. The creation of blog planets by local bloggers working together; and 2. The nearly simultaneous release of the 2006 Pew Internet and American Life Center report on blogging. You guys are a story, and you’re part of a national story.
Lucia overheard my pitch and jumped in, declaring her interest and requesting the assignment. I considered that a good sign.
Later, Lucia stopped by and I briefed her on what I knew and tried to pack a bunch of background into her head. I directed her to TBB, suggested more interview subjects than she could possibly get around to calling, and answered her questions as best I could.
But here’s the thing: I don’t have any idea what she’ll write. I won’t ask to see the story before she submits it, I’m not going to lobby her to write it a certain way, and I’m not going to edit it.
I hope it turns out great, because there’s a great story to tell out of this. If I was back in my reporting job, I’d be writing it.
Oh, and here’s another thing: Smart reporters stay on their toes when they interview bloggers, because if they screw up the story, bloggers are gonna write about it.
I consider it one of the great achievements of my reporting career that I was able to cover both Dave Winer and Dave Slusher and that neither one of them decided to obliterate my reputation afterward.
Great insight Dan… thanks. 🙂
April
Dan’s comments are worth your attention. He can’t be expected to be our guardian or editor with other reporters though he’s been a great friend to the LC Bloggers. He’s reminding us of the realities of journalism.
Anyone who consents to this or any other interview should pay attention to the questions and the direction in which the reporter is taking them. You don’t have to answer anything with which you are uncomfortable. This is not an FBI interrogation so don’t feel intimidated or let yourself be sweet talked into saying something you will regret. You can end any interview at anytime you wish. It could be a great experience and you may have a voice in yet another article on the blogging phenomenon.
Jim Parker of the P&C did an article on MUSTANG ROLLING a few months back with which I was quite pleased. He’s a very nice, experienced and straight up fellow. The interview was great fun and the article rather flattering to be honest.
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