Tips for being an ace in round table interviews
Inspired by my recent freelance stint, this blog entry focuses on advice to new journalists who wonder how to do their best in a round table interview. This also touches on issues to do with being a stringer for various magazines, but even if you are writing for just one publication, I think you would find these points relevant.
Research. Duh, this is a given but I find that there are journalists out there who still spend too little time doing this. This is gleaned from the questions I received from other journalists I was stringing for and from those whom I have interviewed with. Trash anything that is more than two years ago unless it is related to the present in a very specific way.
Why? Well, you just look passé in your knowledge. You’ll be surprised how lax some reporters are in their research. It’s tempting to grab hold of anything Google tosses up, especially if you are busy and stressed. Understand the evolution of the celebrity you are quizzing but keep your questions within the last project, the present, and the near future.
Formulate your questions to suit a couple of angles. After doing your research, you would come to a few conclusions about your subject. The interview will always surprise you with new information and your angle could change but you should have a firm feel about what you want to talk about. Hopefully, with good questions, you could even steer the direction of the round table to your advantage, i.e. get the other journalists to ride on the path of your questions.
Prepare solid questions. Vague, superficial questions will only produce hazy, diluted answers you can’t use anyway. Be specific when you ask about their opinions, what they are doing, whom they are working with, or what they are doing on the side.
Keep away from:
“If you’re not a singer/actor, what will you do?” Usually they will say they have no clue. C’mon, it’s show business — is there anything else that compares? Do you think they would say they would be an investment banker or pop out five babies?
“Where will you be in 10 years’ time?” Do you know where you will be in a decade? No, right? So celebrities wouldn’t know either or they will say they hope to be blessed with being able to continue making movies or albums till they die or something — not a good answer, eh?
“What’s your biggest regret?” This one breaks the “positive spin” rule. If they do regret something, it’s probably highly personal and they won’t say anything or they would throw a cliché answer back, “I don’t regret anything.” Your editor will cross that one out for sure.
“What’s the most memorable moment in your career?” Sweeping questions like this are really difficult to get a good answer. They would probably have a few good moments. As much as you want a charismatic answer, it’s important to understand that questions that require a lot of thinking are not suitable for a competitive 20-minute session.
Have a plan of attack. Many stringers have to represent a few publications in one allotted session and the stress levels are high for this scenario. Tip: try to get on one extra session or more but promise to keep your questions to a minimum. The other journos may resent you for having more opportunities in the interview but make it clear to them you are taking care of several, and not one, publication.
Before the interview, decide on what are the top three questions for each magazine and spot overlapping questions. Plus, read and re-read your questions so as to almost memorise them, because in a competitive situation, you cannot fumble and you need to be lightning-fast to ask your questions before someone else snatches the chance from you.
Another tip: in order to get as many questions in for each magazine, you should rotate them as you go, or you would find one or two lacking in material.
Be alert. The one thing that makes a round table interview different from all the other types is that this one requires a lot of focus. This is similar to a press conference but it’s the norm to get one or two questions in tops and there is always an overall agenda plus a detailed press release on hand. The round table, on the other hand, is a meager 15 to 20 minutes with three to six others and the fight can be daunting if you don’t focus (and is over before you know it). Don’t drink the night before, sleep early, and get ready to flex your mental muscles.
Put a positive spin on your questions. It’s true, nobody cares about a celebrity’s work more than their personal lives, so how do you pry open delicious anecdotes from a private star? You gush a little and heap praise, so it sounds like something great to talk to about and there’s nothing illicit to hide.
”You cannot make friends with the rock stars.” Remember that line from Almost Famous (I love that movie!)? You have to keep your cool and be professional. I’ve witnessed so many reporters who have used their interview time to be some gaga fan, which is a waste of everybody’s time. But being nice or showing approval is fine, because you want to get the star to be happy, feel validated, and open up.
Be civil and respectful. As much as journalism is often a solo act, you shouldn’t be too selfish. It’s likely you will bump into the same journalists from rival magazines again and again. Also, you’re not going to stay at yours forever right, so be decent and let others have a chance to speak. Being a good journalist is a lot about forging relationships.
I personally believe that a good article is 50 per cent research, 20 percent good interviewing skills, 20 per cent good writing skills, and that last elusive 10 per cent is luck and getting favours done. You are never an island and never invincible — contacts are key and many good journalists are hired for who they know and their reputation. You have to be on the ball, but being rude, making complaints, and asking overly cynical questions just label you as a big diva with only a good publication behind you.
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