10.2 Asking open-ended questions

Open-ended questions are essential tools for TV journalists. They encourage detailed responses, uncover new information, and build rapport with interviewees. By using these questions effectively, reporters can gather rich, insightful content for their stories.

Mastering open-ended questions involves understanding different types, like "who, what, when, where, why, how" and follow-ups. Journalists must also navigate challenges such as staying on topic and managing long-winded responses while analyzing and structuring the gathered information.

Benefits of open-ended questions

• Open-ended questions are a powerful tool for journalists and interviewers in television newsrooms to gather more comprehensive and insightful information from their subjects
• Encourage interviewees to provide detailed, thoughtful responses that go beyond simple yes or no answers, allowing for a more engaging and informative news story
• Open-ended questions create opportunities for the interviewer to build rapport and trust with the subject, leading to more authentic and revealing responses

Encouraging detailed responses

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• Require more than a one-word answer, prompting the interviewee to elaborate on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences
• Provide space for the subject to share relevant anecdotes, examples, and context that enrich the story (personal stories, background information)
• Enable the interviewer to gain a deeper understanding of the interviewee's perspective and motivations

Uncovering new information

• Allow for unexpected insights and revelations to emerge, as the interviewee is given the freedom to explore their thoughts and memories
• Can lead to the discovery of previously unknown facts, connections, or angles that enhance the news story
• Encourage the subject to share information they might not have thought to mention in response to a closed-ended question

Building rapport with interviewees

• Demonstrate the interviewer's genuine interest in the subject's experiences and opinions, fostering a more comfortable and open conversation
• Create a more natural, conversational flow that puts the interviewee at ease and encourages them to share more freely
• Help establish trust between the journalist and the subject, increasing the likelihood of obtaining valuable, authentic responses

Types of open-ended questions

• Open-ended questions come in various forms, each designed to elicit specific types of information or encourage the interviewee to explore different aspects of their experience
• Journalists in television newsrooms should be familiar with a range of open-ended question types to effectively gather the information they need for their stories

Who, what, when, where, why, how

• These fundamental question words form the basis of many open-ended questions, prompting the interviewee to provide details about the people, events, places, motivations, and processes involved in the story
• "Who" questions seek information about the individuals involved (Who were the key players in this event?)
• "What" questions ask for descriptions, definitions, or explanations (What happened during the incident?)
• "When" and "where" questions establish the timeline and setting of the story (When did you first become aware of the problem? Where were you when the event took place?)
• "Why" questions probe the reasons, motivations, and causes behind actions or events (Why did you decide to take that course of action?)
• "How" questions inquire about the manner, method, or process involved (How did you manage to overcome that challenge?)

Follow-up questions for clarification

• Used to obtain more specific details or to clarify points made by the interviewee
• Help ensure accuracy and prevent misinterpretation of the subject's responses
• Examples include:
  • Can you explain that in more detail?
  • What exactly do you mean by that?
  • How did that experience affect you personally?

Hypothetical scenario questions

• Invite the interviewee to imagine and comment on potential situations or outcomes related to the topic
• Encourage the subject to think critically and share their insights or predictions
• Examples include:
  • What do you think would have happened if...?
  • How might the situation have been different if...?
  • If faced with a similar challenge in the future, how would you approach it?

Techniques for asking open-ended questions

• Effective use of open-ended questions in television newsroom interviews requires journalists to employ specific techniques that encourage detailed, honest responses while maintaining journalistic integrity
• These techniques help create an environment conducive to gathering valuable information and insights from interviewees

Avoiding leading questions

• Leading questions suggest a particular answer or bias the interviewee's response, undermining the objectivity of the interview
• Journalists should craft questions that allow the subject to express their own thoughts and opinions without undue influence
• Instead of "Don't you think the government's response was inadequate?" ask "How would you assess the government's response to the situation?"

Maintaining a neutral tone

• Interviewers should use a neutral, non-judgmental tone when asking open-ended questions to avoid influencing the subject's responses
• Refrain from expressing personal opinions or reacting emotionally to the interviewee's answers
• Maintain an objective, professional demeanor throughout the interview to encourage open and honest communication

Active listening and engagement

• Journalists should practice active listening during interviews, demonstrating genuine interest in the subject's responses
• Use nonverbal cues (nodding, maintaining eye contact) to show engagement and encourage the interviewee to continue sharing
• Ask follow-up questions that build on the subject's previous answers, showing that you are paying attention and seeking to understand their perspective

Allowing for pauses and silence

• Resist the urge to fill silences or pauses immediately after the interviewee finishes speaking
• Give the subject time to collect their thoughts and potentially share additional information or insights
• Brief moments of silence can also encourage the interviewee to elaborate on their responses or explore new aspects of the topic

Challenges with open-ended questions

• While open-ended questions offer numerous benefits in television newsroom interviews, journalists must also be prepared to navigate the challenges that can arise when using this questioning technique
• Recognizing and addressing these challenges is essential for conducting effective interviews and gathering the information needed for compelling news stories

Staying on topic vs tangents

• Open-ended questions can sometimes lead interviewees to stray from the main topic, providing tangential or irrelevant information
• Journalists must balance the desire for detailed responses with the need to keep the interview focused on the key aspects of the story
• Tactfully redirect the conversation back to the main points when necessary, using phrases like "That's interesting, but let's return to..."

Managing long-winded responses

• Some interviewees may provide overly lengthy or rambling answers to open-ended questions, making it difficult to identify the most important information
• Journalists should be prepared to politely interrupt and refocus the conversation when needed, using phrases like "I'd like to focus on..." or "Can we go back to what you said about...?"
• Break down complex responses into more manageable parts by asking follow-up questions that target specific aspects of the interviewee's answer

Handling evasive or uncooperative interviewees

• Some subjects may deliberately avoid answering open-ended questions directly, provide vague responses, or refuse to engage with the interviewer
• Journalists should be persistent in seeking the information they need, rephrasing questions or approaching the topic from different angles
• Maintain a professional, composed demeanor even when faced with challenging or uncooperative interviewees
• If the subject continues to evade questions or provide unsatisfactory responses, consider moving on to other aspects of the interview or concluding the conversation

Effective use of open-ended questions

• Open-ended questions can be particularly effective in certain types of television news interviews and stories, allowing journalists to gather rich, detailed information that engages viewers and provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter
• Knowing when and how to deploy open-ended questions strategically can greatly enhance the quality and impact of news coverage

In live interviews vs pre-recorded

• Open-ended questions can be used effectively in both live and pre-recorded interviews, but the approach may vary slightly
• In live interviews, journalists must be prepared to adapt their questioning based on the interviewee's responses and manage the flow of the conversation in real-time
• Pre-recorded interviews allow for more flexibility in crafting and refining open-ended questions, as well as editing the final product to highlight the most compelling responses

For human interest stories

• Open-ended questions are particularly valuable in human interest stories, which focus on the personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives of individuals
• Encourage interview subjects to share their stories in their own words, providing rich details and anecdotes that create a strong emotional connection with viewers
• Example: "Can you describe how it felt when you first learned about...?"

During investigative reporting

• In investigative journalism, open-ended questions can help uncover hidden facts, connections, and insights that are crucial to the story
• Use open-ended questions to probe the knowledge and experiences of sources, encouraging them to share information they might not have thought to mention otherwise
• Example: "What can you tell me about the events leading up to...?"

In breaking news situations

• When covering breaking news, open-ended questions can help journalists quickly gather essential details and eyewitness accounts
• Ask open-ended questions that focus on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the unfolding situation to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the event
• Example: "What did you see or hear when the incident occurred?"

Analyzing responses to open-ended questions

• Gathering information through open-ended questions is only the first step in the journalistic process; analyzing and interpreting the responses is equally important for creating compelling, accurate news stories
• Journalists in television newsrooms must be skilled in identifying key insights, verifying information, and structuring narratives based on the responses they receive

Identifying key themes and insights

• Review the responses to open-ended questions to identify recurring themes, patterns, and significant insights that emerge across multiple interviews
• Look for connections between different subjects' experiences and perspectives that can help illuminate the larger story
• Highlight the most compelling or revealing aspects of the responses that contribute to a deeper understanding of the topic

Fact-checking and verification

• Verify the information provided in responses to open-ended questions to ensure accuracy and credibility
• Cross-reference details with other sources, such as documents, official statements, or additional interviews
• Follow up with interviewees or other sources to clarify any inconsistencies or ambiguities in their responses

Selecting compelling soundbites

• Choose the most engaging, informative, or emotionally resonant segments from the responses to open-ended questions to use as soundbites in the final news story
• Soundbites should be concise, clear, and representative of the key themes or insights identified in the analysis process
• Edit soundbites judiciously to maintain context and avoid misrepresenting the interviewee's intended meaning

Structuring narratives around responses

• Use the insights and themes derived from responses to open-ended questions to shape the overall narrative structure of the news story
• Organize the story in a logical, compelling manner that integrates the most relevant and powerful elements of the interviewees' experiences and perspectives
• Ensure that the narrative remains objective, balanced, and true to the information gathered through the open-ended questioning process