The News Interview
Journalists and Public Figures on the Air

This much-needed work examines the place of the news interview in Anglo-American society as well as its historical development.

Steven Clayman (Author), John Heritage (Author)

9780521812597, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 July 2002

384 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.727 kg

'… a fascinating account of the process of news interview. … this is an eminently readable book which readers with an interest in news media should find thoroughly interesting and useful.' Debate

The news interview has become a major vehicle for presenting broadcast news and political commentary, and a primary interface between the institutions of journalism and government. This much-needed work examines the place of the news interview in Anglo-American society and considers its historical development in the United States and Britain. The main body of the book discusses the fundamental norms and conventions that shape conduct in the modern interview. It explores the particular recurrent practices through which journalists balance competing professional norms that encourage both objective and adversarial treatment of public figures. Through analyses of well-known interviews, the book explores the relationship between journalists and public figures and also how, in the face of aggressive questioning, politicians and other public figures struggle to stay 'on message' and pursue their own agendas. This comprehensive and wide-ranging book will be essential reading for students and researchers in sociolinguistics, media and communication studies.

1. Introduction
2. The news interview in context
3. Framing the news interview
4. Taking turns and 'doing' news interview talk
5. Defensible questioning
6. Designing questions
7. Answers and evasions
8. The panel interview
9. Conclusion: the future of the news interview.

Subject Areas: Sociolinguistics [CFB]