How to Conduct a Great Television Interview

Whether you’re conducting an on-air television interview for a news story or taping one for a talk show, there are a few TV interview tips you should keep in mind when sitting down in front of your subjects:

1. 1. Know your subject. Do your pre-interview homework before sitting down to ask someone questions. Know their credentials or their background, research their expertise, and be aware of any controversial discussion topics.
2. 2. Prep your subject. The interviewee should have the chance to prepare for the questions they’ll be asked. While you don’t usually need to provide a complete list of specific interview questions, give them a general idea or the key points of what they’ll be asked and the topics that will be covered. You want an element of spontaneity without catching your subject completely off-guard.
3. 3. Start slow. Have a goal in mind for the kind of information you want to glean from this interview, and slowly work your way towards it by asking simple questions. Interviews can be emotional, and hammering people with ‘gotcha-style’ questioning or asking the tough questions too soon can cause the interviewee to feel uncomfortable, especially if this is their first TV interview. Remember that this is an interview, not an interrogation. You want to gain your subject’s trust and build to the intense, revealing moments naturally, while also making sure to cover the main points of the story.
4. 4. Use active listening. Use your body language to indicate your attention and focus is on the person you’re interviewing. Letting your interviewee talk and tell their story with only minimal guidance is the ideal way to conduct your interview. You want your audience to see a person freely sharing their story, product, experience, or knowledge—not someone being prodded for sound bites. Even after your subject has answered your question, maintain eye contact and leave a small pause. It’s likely your interviewee has a few prepared answers, so give them a moment to try and fill the silence themselves. What they offer may be more of value than continuously trying to steer the conversation yourself. Learn more about active listening in our guide here.
5. 5. Ask open-ended questions. Ask follow-up questions to gain more information from your subject, but rather than searching for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers, ask questions that will lead to a story, or an emotional share. For instance, “how did you feel when you sold an album for the first time?” Or, “when did you realize you wanted to be a doctor?” These questions may not be part of your outline, but it’s important to react with follow-ups that can expand the story—and questions you know your viewers would want to know the answers to.

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