Monday, November 16, 2015

WHAT MAKES A GOOD INTERVIEWER?





A senatorial candidate and a broadcast journalist made a historical buzz courtesy of their unpalatable encounter on the latter's cable program.

A video of Alma Moreno being interviewed on Headstart by Karen Davila has gone viral on social media, due to Moreno's ineptness in answering questions thrown at her by Davila, particularly those that focused on the Magna Carta for Women and the Reproductive Health Bill.

Moreno obviously was unprepared for such issues and didn't see them coming. It wasn't a good interview in all angles. But why are critics just zeroing in on the actress?

I personally believe that the good turn out of any interview will rest more on the interviewer. After all, he or she is the one who will ask questions and dictate the phasing of the interview. The interviewer can either make or break the interviewee.

Here are my thoughts on what makes a good interviewer:

  1.  A good interviewer brings out the best in the interviewee. The interviewee must not feel embarrassed and harassed, no matter how bad the interview went.
  2.  A good interviewer asks questions not in an intimidating manner, and does not appear to be interrogating or cross-examining the interviewee.
  3.  A good interviewer knows how to make the interviewee feel at ease, most especially if the interviewee is beginning to sail on rough seas.
  4.  A good interviewer speaks the language of the interviewee. If the latter speaks in Filipino most of the time, then the former must adapt by speaking the same language too.
  5. A good interviewer knows how to tone down and restrain himself or herself, if the interviewee is starting to clam up and appear disoriented.
  6. A good interviewer does not project a know-it-all attitude, and does not appear more knowledgeable than the interviewee (even if that is the case).
  7. A good interviewer adjusts well to the character of the interviewee. Speak like a scientist only if you are talking to one.
  8. A good interviewer is polite, courteous, and humble. In other words, does not show an air of superiority over the interviewee.
  9. A good interviewer does not put the interviewee in a bad light, and creates a positive rapport between him or her and the interviewee.

Indeed, it was lousy interview. But as they say - it takes two to tango. Hence, we cannot put all the blame on Alma Moreno.

Need I say more?




1 comment:

  1. So basically what you're trying to say is that Karen Davila should have dumbed down the interview to make Alma Moreno look like a good senatoriable for the masses. LOL! Another poor soul who totally missed the point. Moreno is running for a senatorial position. Shouldn't we, the voters, expect HIGHLY of the senatoriables, given that they are going to be our future legislators? Ano na lang mangyayari sa paggawa ng mga batas kung mga katulad ni Alma na underqualified na nga ay wala pang kaalam-alam sa current issues ang uupo sa Senado? Are we really going to make a clown of ourselves again come 2016 and beyond, kung unti-unti na tayong bumabangon ngayon?

    Alma Moreno deserves to be shamed because she brought it upon herself. It was not a good interview because Alma made it so. I hope Karen Davila dishes out the same "difficult" questions in her future interviews towards other underqualified and celebrity senatoriables nang magkaalaman na.

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