Introduction
Interviews are distinguishable from ordinary conversations, as interviews depend on a system of turn taking, which determines the order of talk and the roles of each person in the interaction. Sports interviews differ from other common interactions due to how the conversation is produced and ended. There are expectations from each individual during an interview that plays into the framework of the reporter to anticipate responses. In this paper, I plan to outline the effective ways a reporter extracts information for the audience in post-game, sports interviews.
Questions/notes
- Literature- how does interviewer put interviewee's at ease?
- Interviewer takes 2nd spot to athlete who is the main focus.
o Center audience on interviewee and let them provide info and develop answers
- Interview is for entertainment of TV audience
o H&C - Phrases like "mm-hm," "uh huh," "yes," or "oh" are noticeable patterns to acknowledging someone's response
Explains that news conversation is meant to lack these recognizable features, since the interview is for recognizable for the viewing of the public, not the people on set.
- Does this compare to sports interviews?
- Quickly engage the athlete and keep a positive conversation and put themselves in the background.
o H&C- Neutrality - When interviewing it is important to maintain neutrality- don't set someone up for defensive position - just want to report the information.
o Do you see any examples where they asked questions that might create conflict or make the athlete defensive? Probably not. This may further support your position about the openings setting them up for a good, engaging interview
o How do they build report and keep athlete talking?
Priming - Media provide a context for public discussion of an issue, setting the stage for audience understanding.
o Prevalent in sport interviews? You probably won't see the reporter priming, or only a limited amount, because the sports event that just ended or is about to start, already set the stage for the interview. You might see some priming related to explaining the specific athlete's role in the game - highest scorer, MVP, etc.
Agenda setting theory -
Openings - What type of questions lead to fruitful answers and a quality interview?
o Does how you start off the interview effect the rest of the interview.
- Open ended questions vs close format questions (yes/no)
- Do they smile at the opening, touch the athlete, make eye contact? All of these things could lead to a better connection.
- Need to have accuracy and purpose in reporting/posing questions
o Prior to Game 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals, a reporter actually asked him, via USA Today: "Pop, for those of us that are not in this building more than at Finals time, does it feel normal air-wise to you, temperature-wise to you tonight?
1. What is reporter's frame for the interview? Is the goal to present the athlete in a positive way or to challenge them?
a. Does the reporter smile?
b. Does the reporter interrupt the athlete?
c. Does the reporter ask questions that key off what the athlete says, or do they follow their own line of questioning?
d. Do they encourage the athlete in other ways?
e. Does the reporter guide the interview or does the athlete take charge? How does this happen?
f. Is there a difference if they won or lost?
2. What is the athlete's frame for the interview? Are they in a hurry to get away or do they want to use the interview to present themselves in a positive way?
a. Does the athlete smile?
b. Do they make eye contact?
c. Do they give short, curt answers or do they seem to engage with the reporter?
d. Are they engaged while talking or do they seem uninterested and want to get away? What behaviors lead you to see this?
e. Are the behaviors different if the athlete won or lost?
3. Who ends the interview?
4. How many question and answer exchanges occur?