Wanted for Questioning: Interviewers on the Art and Craft of Interviewing

Matthew Ricketson

“Here are a couple of questions about asking questions:

If interviewing is central to journalism why are so many interviews so boring to watch?

If interviewing is a cornerstone skill in journalism, why do so many aspiring journalists find it so difficult to do?

Taking these one by one, so many interviews are boring to watch (or listen to) because so many of those who are interviewed have been trained — often by former journalists — in the ju-jitsu art of not answering questions while appearing to do so …”