Week 5, Activity 2
Comparing news and entertainment interviews
Interviews from: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
ABC – Lateline interview:
Lateline reporter, Emma Alberici interviews counter insurgency analyst, David Kilcullen (watch the interview on the link below).
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-16/interview:-david-kilcullen,-a-us-based-counter/7175036
The interview with David Kilcullen was in promotion of his book Blood year, Islamic State and the failures of the war on terror.
Although this is a promotional interview, it is also an informative and serious news interview. The topic does not allow for frivolity, but an investigative approach to determine Kilcullen’s views.
Lateline reporter, Emma Alberici introduces Kilcullen as a ‘US-based counter-insurgency analyst’, citing the title of his recent book, an overview of his experience (Lateline 2016, 00:01-00:21).
As Kilcullen was an adviser to the previous US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, Alberici seizes an opportunity to gain some insight into an unfolding news story. She progresses by requesting Kilcullen’s view on the ceasefire in Syria (Lateline 2016, 00:23-01:36).
This is followed up by a discussion of the ‘central thesis’ of Kilcullen’s book, which is relevant to the Syrian crisis and current news. Alberici wastes no time in exploring political themes, and extracting Kilcullen’s views regarding the situations in Afghanistan and Libya.
To close the interview, Alberici lets Kilcullen know that time is up and thanks him for his input (Lateline 2016, 09:41-09:48).
This is a different approach than the following interview from ABC News (Australia):
Figure 1: Virginia Trioli interviews Cyndi Lauper & Harvey Fierstein
Source: ABC News (Australia) 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z54rFAzfMBo
The approach to this interview is informative, yet lighthearted, given that the guests are promoting their new musical production (entertainment).
This contrasts with the seriousness of a the previous promotional interview (counter-terrorism). Although this is still news (entertainment news), it requires a different tone due to the subject matter.
The opening to the interview is rather odd: “Good morning to both of you (Australia time) and welcome to Kinky Boots” (ABC News [Australia] 2016, 00:01-00:05). However, this sets the scene for the artistic characters being interviewed, as well as their quirky production.
ABC reporter, Virginia Trioli uses puns (apparently unintentionally) and humour in her questioning: “…did you both know that this show would have legs like this when you started out with it?” (ABC News [Australia] 2016, 00:17-00:20). The use of humour at this point establishes rapport with both the interviewees and the audience (Israel 2012).
Trioli continues with a line of questioning in relation to the themes of the show and how the interviewees relate to those themes (from 02:01). In this manner, she coaxes her guests to reveal some personal aspects of their involvement with the production (Israel 2012).
To develop the interview, she discusses the guest’s separate projects. Following this, Trioli closes the interview, thanking her guests.
Comparative analysis
Both interviews use a set format for the interview: introduction, body, and conclusion. The difference lies in the type of questions asked and the overall atmosphere of the interview.
The first scenario is a serious interview, relating to counter-insurgency and the Syrian crisis, which involves the promotion of a book. The second scenario is a promotional interview about a musical production. The interviewer in both situations has some level of knowledge about the products being promoted, however, in the first instance, this is more specific due to the subject matter.
There is a notable absence of humour in the first interview as opposed to it being a key aspect of the second. The interviewer in both instances, chooses appropriate communication with the interviewees in regard to the topic. This is essential to the audience’s perception of the interviewer and interviewee as credible.
In all, the techniques used in both interviews accurately reflect the subject matter in order to communicate the story effectively to the audience.
References
‘The true colours of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’ 2016, ABC News (Australia), television program, 17 February, viewed 7 April 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z54rFAzfMBo
‘Interview: David Kilcullen, a US-based counter-insurgency analyst’ 2016, Lateline, ABC television transcript, 16 February, viewed 7 April 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-16/interview:-david-kilcullen,-a-us-based-counter/7175036
Israel, S 2012, ‘9 tips on conducting great interviews’, Forbes, 14 April, viewed 6 April 2016, http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelisrael/2012/04/14/8-tips-on-conducting-great-interviews/#a5f7575387a1
Speech & Script by Sheena 