Tip: Stay updated on digital trends to reach wider audiences.
- Lessons From A Broad Range of Indian and Western TV Journalists
Both Western and Indian TV journalists offer unique insights into the art of interviewing, each excelling in different aspects of the craft. By studying their techniques, you can develop a versatile interviewing style that resonates with diverse audiences.
- Western Journalists to Study
- Oprah Winfrey: Known for her empathetic yet probing style, Oprah creates a safe space for guests to share deeply personal stories.
- David Frost: His tenacity and preparation led Richard Nixon to admit wrongdoing in the Watergate scandal, showcasing the power of persistence.
- Barbara Walters: A master of navigating sensitive topics with empathy and professionalism.
- Jeremy Paxman: His relentless questioning of Michael Howard became a masterclass in holding power to account. An equally tough interviewer, described by Andrew Neil, a famous TV journalist/presenter as ‘a wonderful interrogator’ was feared by politicians due to his tact, diplomacy and charm in bringing forth answers he wanted.
- Trevor Noah: Combines wit and humor to make complex topics accessible and entertaining.
- Trevor McDonald: As a crusader of truth the British famous journalist warned of the consequences of a society that lacks a foundation in truth. For a civilised and functional society, he stressed that understanding and conveying the truth is indispensable. He highlighted the challenges journalists face today, especially with the rise of misinformation and the influence of social media. He asserted that the need for rigorous truth-seeking, including consulting multiple sources to ensure accurate reporting. (News Reader Trevor McDonald):
- Indian Journalists To Study
- Arnab Goswami: Known for his aggressive, high-energy debates, Goswami demonstrates how to shape narratives to seek answers and lead conversations while maintaining audience engagement. Learn ‘tenacity and persistence from journalists like David Frost and Arnab Goswami, who demonstrate how to pursue the truth relentlessly.
- Ravish Kumar: His calm yet firm style, combined with deep empathy, makes his interviews both impactful and respectful. Study empathy and rapport-building from Oprah Winfrey and Ravish Kumar to understand how to create a safe space for guests to open up.
- Barkha Dutt: A fearless reporter, Dutt combines emotional intelligence with tenacity, making her interviews personal and probing. Observe how Trevor Noah and Barkha Dutt adapt their style to suit different contexts, from hard-hitting journalism to light-hearted interviews.
- Rajdeep Sardesai: His diplomatic yet incisive questioning showcases how to balance toughness with professionalism. Follow the example of Barbara Walters and Rajdeep Sardesai, who maintain professionalism and fairness even in contentious interviews and how both used ethics and fairness.
- Sudhir Chaudhary is often praised for his ability to cover complex topics and for his engaging and thorough presentation style. His performance and wits have inspired several trainee journalists to make a career in television and investigative journalism and shaping the next generation of media professionals.
- Anjana Om Kashyap: Her no-nonsense approach and direct questioning highlighting the importance of holding power to account is noted. https://7knetwork.com/top-indian-journalists/
- Practice and Growth Strategies
- Continuous improvement is key to mastering the craft of interviewing.
- Watch and Analyse: Study successful interviews to understand question styles and techniques.
- Practice Mock Interviews: Self-record and review your performance.
- Seek Feedback: Learn from peers and mentors.
- Stay Informed: Keep up with industry trends, news, and cultural shifts.
- Build a Personal Brand: Develop a presence on social media, blogs, or YouTube to showcase your expertise.
Final Thoughts
A great TV interviewer is a master of preparation, adaptability, and authenticity. Whether conducting hard-hitting journalism or light-hearted celebrity interviews, the key is to make both the guest and the audience feel engaged and informed. By combining technical skills, personal qualities, and ethical standards and drawing inspiration from both Western and Indian journalists – you can navigate any conversation with finesse, bringing out the best (and sometimes the most revealing) responses from your guests.
The Main Steps To Achieve Revealing Insights:
- Use ample white space to avoid clutter and make the content easier to scan. By prioritising white space and font size between 18 and 22 which improves readability and comprehension, especially on mobile devices.
b. You need to be creative with the headlines and headings by crafting eye-catching, intriguing and informative headlines: (a) Brainstorm multiple headlines to find the most engaging one, (b) Use strong, authoritative language and convey the value or problem-solving aspect of the content and (c) Intrigue readers with questions or storytelling elements in headlines.
c. Keep paragraphs short and focused: Two to three line paragraphs are fast becoming fashionable so use short, laser-focused paragraphs to improve readability and skimmability. Using short sentences to maintain reader interest and avoid monotony. Readable.io can help assess readability, helping readers to digest information quickly. This can be listed with bullet points which make scanning faster while increasing grasping.
d.Use more visuals to engage readership: Visualise data, information, data, charts in the form of infographics to make it more accessible and engaging. This will help skimmers grasp key points without reading through dense text. Infographics are also useful in summarising information easily to help skimmers understand the main points. Readers often focus on the first and last paragraphs of a section.
e. Earn Full-Length Readers: Recognise that most readers will skim first. Ensure your content is skimmable to pique their interest and encourage deeper reading. Test your article’s skimmability by having someone skim it and report back on what they learned.
The above methods will not only be informative but also easy to skim, increasing the likelihood of converting casual readers into engaged, full-length readers.
Would People Watch If the Drama Were Dialled Down?
This depends on two factors: perceived relevance and delivery style.
- Perceived Relevance:If viewers feel that a discussion directly impacts their lives or aligns with their values, they’re more likely to engage. The challenge is convincing them that thoughtful, issue-based journalism matters more than the short-lived thrill of dramatic debates.
- Delivery Style: Thoughtful journalism doesn’t have to be boring! Engaging visuals, well-paced storytelling, and passionate yet respectful debates can hold attention without descending into chaos. A balance between depth and accessibility is key.