How To Cover Money S1:E7: Interviewing Business Leaders
by Micheline Maynard March 2, 2015
The Reynolds Center podcast, How To Cover Money, is in its first season on iTunes.
Each week, co-host Mark Remillard and I look at topics that are useful in learning to think like a business reporter, even if you’re not one. A new podcast episode is uploaded to iTunes every weekend.
Our podcast is free, and you can download it here or listen below. Each podcast runs about 10-15 minutes, making it a quick feature that you can play in class or assign as homework.
Episode 7 looks at a nerve-wracking subject for many young journalists: interviewing big name business leaders. The episode offers some advice on how to plot interview strategy. Here are some questions you can ask your students as part of a discussion.
- Have you ever found yourself intimidated by a CEO or a famous corporate executive?
- Did your feelings get in the way of doing a good interview? Or were you able to overcome them?
- What tips do you have for members of the class when they have to interview CEOs or famous people?
- Tell us your ideas for keeping control of an interview when it’s clear the person is “on message” and trying to avoid giving you something new.
- Was there a situation where you were able to get a scoop or something new from a famous person?
- Who do you think has the upper hand in interviews, the journalist or the interview subject?
