Interviewing on the Radio like a Pro: Tips from a Professional Presenter

Summary

This video script emphasizes the importance of mastering radio interview techniques, particularly for music artists. It advises against being argumentative or controversial, especially for beginners, to avoid alienating guests and listeners. The focus should be on creating engaging content that brings in more listeners. Key do's include making guests feel welcome, doing thorough research, asking open-ended questions, and adapting the conversation based on their responses. Don'ts involve being rude, dominating the conversation, or making it about the interviewer. The goal is to build a reputation as a great interviewer, encouraging guests to promote the show, thereby attracting new listeners.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ Interviewing skills are crucial for radio presenters as they can impact the success of the interview and the presenter's career.
• 🚫 Avoid being confrontational or interrogative; the goal is to engage listeners and create content, not alienate them.
• 🚨 Controversy might seem like a shortcut to fame but it can be detrimental, especially for beginners, and may lead to career-ending consequences.
• 🎵 The script focuses on interviews with music artists, but the principles can be adapted to other types of interviews.
• 🙅‍♂️ Don'ts: Don't argue, embarrass, be rude, interrogate, dominate, make it about yourself, or share private jokes during the interview.
• 🙆‍♂️ Do's: Make guests feel welcome, informed, ask open-ended questions, adapt to guests' responses, and let them share their story.
• 💬 Pay attention to guests' answers and adjust your questions to keep the conversation flowing naturally.
• 📢 Use the interview to get exclusive content for your radio station, which can help promote the show on social media.
• 📈 Building a reputation as a great interviewer can lead to guests promoting your show, potentially increasing your listener base.
• 📝 Craft questions that elicit interesting and entertaining answers, keeping in mind the interests of your audience.

Q & A

Why is knowing how to interview on radio important for a presenter?

Knowing how to interview on radio is crucial because it can affect the outcome of the interview, the relationship with the guest, and the presenter's career. A bad interview can alienate the guest, their followers, and the radio audience, while a good one can enhance listener engagement and build the presenter's reputation.

What is the main goal of conducting an interview on radio?

The main goal of conducting an interview on radio is to attract more listeners and create content that is engaging for the existing audience. The interview should be informative and entertaining, rather than confrontational or interrogative.

Why is being controversial not advisable for a beginner presenter?

Being controversial can be detrimental for a beginner presenter because it may alienate guests and listeners, and could lead to a swift end to their career. Controversy is more suitable for established presenters who have built a reputation that can withstand it.

What are some 'do's' for interviewing a music artist on radio?

When interviewing a music artist, 'do's' include making the guest feel welcome, being well-informed about the guest, asking open-ended questions, paying attention to their answers, adapting questions accordingly, and allowing the guest to share information they came to discuss.

What are some 'don'ts' to avoid during a radio interview with a music artist?

During a radio interview, 'don'ts' include being argumentative, discussing embarrassing past history, being rude, interrogating the guest, dominating the conversation, making it about the interviewer, and telling private jokes that only the interviewer and guest understand.

How should a presenter prepare for an interview with a music artist?

A presenter should prepare for an interview by doing thorough research on the artist, preparing open-ended questions, and being ready to adapt the conversation based on the guest's responses. It's also important to be informed about the artist's recent work and upcoming events.

What is the significance of asking open-ended questions during a radio interview?

Open-ended questions are significant because they encourage the guest to elaborate on their experiences and thoughts, leading to more engaging and informative conversations. They also allow for a more natural flow of dialogue rather than simple yes/no answers.

Why is it important to let the guest speak more than the interviewer during a radio interview?

Letting the guest speak more than the interviewer is important because it allows the guest to share their insights and stories, which is the primary purpose of the interview. It also makes the interview more interesting for the listeners and provides valuable content.

How can a radio presenter use interviews to enhance their show's social media presence?

A radio presenter can enhance their show's social media presence by asking guests to share exclusive content, such as unreleased information or behind-the-scenes stories, and by creating social media content like photographs with the guest after the interview.

What is the role of the interviewer in steering the conversation during a radio interview?

The role of the interviewer is to guide the conversation in a way that fits the show's format and interests the listeners, while ensuring that the guest feels comfortable and is encouraged to share interesting information. This involves asking relevant questions and adapting the interview based on the guest's responses.