The reporter behind Netflix show 'Inside the World's Toughest Prisons' shares his tips on getting an interviewee to open up and remaining calm under pressure
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Even the most seasoned journalist can find interviews tricky. With the majority of reporting now taking place online, it is even more difficult to ask questions that help you get those striking and snappy soundbites.
Paul Connolly is an investigative broadcast journalist who cut his teeth in radio but is now well-known for documentaries such as Netflix show 'Inside the World's Toughest Prisons', where he has ventured into the cells to speak to convicts.
While not all interviews carry the same risks, there are some common rules for becoming a top interviewer. Many of the techniques that Connolly employs could be applicable to your next Zoom interview.
In this week's episode of the Journalism.co.uk podcast, he offers the golden rules to interviewing, including preparation, getting your interviewee off-script, what to do when you fluff your lines, and how to defuse a hostile situation.
Want even more interviewing guidance? Join Paul Connolly on 8 February 2020 for a two-day online advanced interviewing skills course
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