Never in a million years did I ever think I would be getting “interview tips” from a TV anchor! To give you some background, I worked at CNN for eight years where I used to promote all TV shows on all the digital platforms. Needless to say, I was always behind the camera and I was ok there. Lately, however, I have been playing with being in front of the camera for fun and, let me tell you, it is not easy at first.
Here’s how the story goes… A few weeks ago I ran into Tony Harris, a former CNN anchor, at a Brazilian restaurant and we reconnected. We talked briefly about Brazil and planned to catch up. Well, we did get together and it was great! We talked about everything and learned a lot about each other professionally and personally. Mainly we talked about our passions and personal projects. Next thing you know (don’t ask me how) we started talking about Facebook Live and how powerful it is. Tony wanted to see it and, right there and then, we did an impromptu interview. I taught him how to use Facebook Live and he gave me some tips on interviewing. It was a fantastic exchange of information. Oh, and all this happened during a live broadcast, I might add.
Even though Tony doesn’t think he gave me any tips on interviewing, here were my takeaways:
- Don’t Over-Rehearse: The best interactions are the ones that are not overly planned and the same applies to interviews. Tony and I did not plan on being on camera, let alone doing an interview. Right before I put the camera on, we spent maybe one minute going through what we should talk about. Really, we covered what we wanted in less than two minutes and BOOM, we were live. It turned out that it worked really well. The conversation was fun, enlightening and very informative.
- Be Authentic: Whatever you do, do it with your own voice and showing who you are. That’s the best way to connect with your interviewee and with your audience. I have always admired Tony for his authenticity and high energy. There is no need to become something you are not simply because you are in front of the camera.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Ask A Question: I asked Tony if he had ever asked a question that didn’t go down well with the interviewee. His response? “All the time.” If the reaction wasn’t good, he ignored it. As a journalist it is his job to ask the tough questions and, many times, the response won’t be as pretty as expected. Ask and move on to the next question. Don’t take things personally.
Good insights, don’t you think?
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