Interview

The importance andfocus of the interview in the work of the print and broadcast journalist are

reflected in severalbooks that have been written on the topic .Most of these books,as well as severalchapters,mainly in,but not limited to,journalism and broadcasting

handbooks andreporting

texts,stressthe"how to"aspects of journalistic interviewing rather than theconceptual aspects of the interview,its context,and,implications.Much ofthe"how to"material is

based on personalexperiences and general impressions.As we know,in journalism as in otherfields,much can be learned from the systematic study of professional

practice.Such studybrings together evidence from which broad generalized principles can bedeveloped.

There is,as has beensuggested,a growing body of research literature in journalism and

broadcasting,butvery little significant attention has been devoted to the study of theinterview itself. On the other hand,many general texts as well as numerousresearch

articles oninterviewing

in fields other thanjournalism have been written.Many of these books and articles present the

theoretical andempirical aspects of the interview as well as the training of theinterviewers.Unhappily,this plentiful general literature about interviewingpays little attention

to the journalistic

interview seems tobe surprising for two reasons.First,it seems likely that most people in modernWestern societies are more familiar,at least in a positive manner,with

journalisticinterviewing than with any other form of interviewing. Most of us are probablysomewhat familiar with the clinical interview,such as that conducted byphysicians

and psychologists.Inthese situations the professional person or interviewer is interested ingetting information necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of the personseeking

help.Anotherfamiliar situation is the job interview.However, very few of us have actuallybeen interviewed personally by the mass media,particularly by television.And

yet,we have a vividacquaintance with the journalistic interview by virtue of our roles asreaders,listeners,and viewers.Even so,true understanding of the journalistic

interview,especiallytelevision interview,requires thoughtful analysis and even study,as this bookindicates.

The televisioninterviews don't require thoughtful analysis.

A.Right

B. Wrong

C. Not mentioned