The interviewer becomes the interviewee October 19, 2021 – Posted in: Writer

Having been a journalist and broadcaster for almost fifty years, long ago I lost count of the number of interviews I have carried out … however the number of interviews I have given is another matter entirely and could probably be measured on the fingers of one hand.

It is a strange feeling when the notebook is on the other lap; and I doubt that I am alone in finding it difficult to keep my answers confined to the intended question. There is an irresistible desire to either talk too much or to empathise with the interviewer to such an extent that phrases are spoken almost automatically in a series of stilted sound bites.

The most challenging part is if the interviewer is kind enough to let you see a copy of their finished article: “just to check for factual inaccuracies, you understand”. The sub text being, however tempting,  DO NOT RE-WRITE IT. Although, the journalist might be coming from a different angle from the one you expected, it doesn’t matter. It may be about you, but this is not your story. You are in no way involved with its deadlines or by-lines. 

It must be a nightmare for those journalists who find themselves interviewing other journalists and I would like to say thank you to Patrick Prekopp for his skill and patience regarding the article in the current edition of Just Aylsham.