Persistent Interviewing 101: Jeremy Paxman vs. Michael Howard
To yesterday's post on US journalists anemically shying away from "follow-up" questions (Tom Brokaw gets a B- for that, graded on a curve, for last night's debate), I got several good e-mail comments.
My favorite, from a colleague in the UK, reminded me of the famous Jeremy Paxman interview with Michael Howard. Paxman is the longest-serving "presenter" on the BBC's Newsnight program, and a tough interviewer. In this legendary, May, 1997 interview, Michael Howard, who had just left his post as Home Secretary, was asked the same question by Paxman not once or twice, but 12 times.
Remember Katie Couric's recent "not to belabor the point"? Paxman trots out a few more ripostes:
- "With respect, you haven't answered the question."
- "I'm going to be frightfully rude."
- "I note you are not answering the question."
Should be required viewing in J-schools….and maybe newsrooms.
That excerpt. The full eight-minute interview, here. Enjoy.