Interviewing for Radio

164 Pages·2011·0.48 MB·English

by  Jim Beaman

Interviewing for Radio
Interviewing for Radio is a thorough introduction to the techniques and skills
of the radio interview. It offers advice on how to ask the right question and
elicit a response, and guides the reader through the use of equipment, the
mechanics of recording, the studio environment, live broadcasts, presentation
and pronunciation, and editing material.
Written by Jim Beaman, an experienced producer and instructor, Interviewing
for Radio includes:
(cid:129) the history of the radio interview and the importance of its role today
(cid:129) practical exercises that introduce successful interview and technical skills
(cid:129) case studies and hypothetical scenarios to help you prepare for potential
difficulties
(cid:129) a discussion of ethics, risk assessment, codes of conduct and regulations.
This second edition has been thoroughly updated and includes advice from
a new range of practitioners, and examples of recent UK and international
interviews. The author critically analyses these interviews and explains the
preparation, organisation and expertise required in order to produce a successful
radio broadcast. Interviewing for Radio references both new and existing
regulations and guidelines for UK journalists, then offers a global perspective
by drawing on the differences and similarities with those applicable to other
countries.
This invaluable book is supported by a companion website at www.routledge.
com/textbooks/9780415561709, which includes audio interviews with practi -
tioners accompanied by a range of student exercises, a comprehensive glossary
in the form of interactive flashcards, and suggested links for further listening.
Jim Beamanis Senior Lecturer on the Journalism and Radio Production courses
at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. His broadcasting career includes
presenting, producing and reporting for BBC Radio, and he has also worked
as an instructor with BBC Radio Training. He is the author of Programme
Making for Radio (2006).
Media Skills
EDITED BY: RICHARD KEEBLE, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
The Media Skills series provides a concise and thorough introduction to a
rapidly changing media landscape. Each book is written by media and
journalism lecturers or experienced professionals and is a key resource for a
particular industry. Offering helpful advice and information and using practical
examples from print, broadcast and digital media, as well as discussing ethical
and regulatory issues, Media Skills books are essential guides for students and
media professionals.
Also in this series:
English for Journalists, 3rd edition
Wynford Hicks
Writing for Journalists, 2nd edition
Wynford Hicks with Sally Adams, Harriett Gilbert and Tim Holmes
Ethics for Journalists, 2nd edition
Richard Keeble
Interviewing for Journalists, 2nd edition
Sally Adams, with Wynford Hicks
Researching for Television and Radio
Adèle Emm
Reporting for Journalists, 2nd edition
Chris Frost
Subediting for Journalists
Wynford Hicks and Tim Holmes
Designing for Newspapers and Magazines
Chris Frost
Writing for Broadcast Journalists, 2nd edition
Rick Thompson
Freelancing for Television and Radio
Leslie Mitchell
Programme Making for Radio
Jim Beaman
Magazine Production
Jason Whittaker
Production Management for Television
Leslie Mitchell
Feature Writing for Journalists
Sharon Wheeler
Interviewing for Radio
SECOND EDITION
Jim Beaman
First edition published 2000
by Routledge
Reprinted 2007, 2008 (twice), 2009
This edition published 2011
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2011.
To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.
© 2000, 2011 Jim Beaman
The right of Jim Beaman to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Beaman, Jim, 1959–
Interviewing for radio / Jim Beaman. — 2nd ed.
p. cm. –(Media skills)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Interviewing on radio. I. Title.
PN1991.8.I57B43 2011
791.4402(cid:2)8—dc22 2010041907
ISBN 0-203-83452-6 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN13: 978–0–415–56169–3 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978–0–415–56170–9 (pbk)
ISBN13: 978–0–203–83452–7 (ebk)
Contents
Acknowledgements vii
Preface ix
1 The birth and development of the radio interview 1
2 The role and purpose of the radio interview 11
3 Codes, guidelines, regulations and good practice 29
4 Before the interview 53
5 At the interview 79
6 After the interview 123
7 Listening to interviews 133
Index 149

Acknowledgements
My thanks to the friends and colleagues in broadcasting, training and education
for their generous contributions.
All quotes from industry professionals, academics and students are from author
interviews conducted face-to-face, via telephone or by email.

Preface
Surely anyone can chat and ask questions? To do it professionally is a lot
more challenging. As well as being able to ask a question and then listen to
and absorb the answer you need to be naturally curious, be empathetic and
people should like talking to you. To become a good radio interviewer there
is no substitute for practice and experience. Like many others I learned the
pleasures and pitfalls of radio production by actually doing it and making
mistakes and having successes. When I began my career there were no courses
at universities and colleges in journalism or media production on which I
could enrol and certainly no ‘how to do it’ books, so I welcomed any guidance
and feedback about my performance from more experienced broadcasters. The
aim of this book is to support anybody trying to develop a skill in the art of
radio interviewing. It does not aim to tell you how it must be done, but how
it is done and can be done. The content is based on good practice and the
experiences of professionals in radio, radio training and education. Listening
to a variety of interviews on a range of stations and noting the techniques
used by the interviewers will also prove useful. You will discover what works
best for you in a variety of situations and you will develop your own instincts
about what to ask, apply your own tricks of the trade to elicit reluctant replies
and introduce your own style and personality to your interviews.
SOUND ADVICE
• Be a good listener.
• Listen to lots of different kinds of radio interviews on a range of stations.
• Listen to what your interviewee is saying when you interview them.
• Listen to how they are saying it.
• Listen to what they are not saying and trying not to say.
• Listen back to your interviews and learn from them.
• Listen to the advice from experienced interviewers.