When you do interviews, do you typically ask closed- or open-ended questions? If you don't know what I'm talking about, trot on over to this great story about interviewing guru John Sawatsky. The story talks about how conventional interviewing techniques often don't work.
It includes some interesting anecdotes about well-known TV journalists falling flat in their interviews, generally because of closed-ended questions (ones that can be answered with a "yes" or "no"), rather than "what," "how" and "why." Seeing Sawatsky speak at a workshop a few years ago had a big influence on me. If you don't have a chance to see him yourself, check out one of his books.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Awards: Call for Entries for PWAC Writing Awards
The Professional Writers Association of Canada has put out its call for entries for its second annual writing awards. Non-fiction print and web stories in Canadian media are eligible. Award amounts have been increased to $750 value this year ($500 in cash plus a year's free PWAC membership to those eligible). Read all about it here. Also check out the editor of the year awards. (Disclosure: I'm co-chair of PWAC's nominations and awards committee.)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Awards: CAJ, NMA Deadlines Approach
Some reporting award deadlines are fast approaching in Canada. The deadline for the National Magazine Awards is tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 14. The Canadian Association of Journalists has just announced the deadline for its 2010 awards is Feb. 10.
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