Archbishop Tutu's lesson in preparing for an interview

Our team member Paul Curran describes how he found out the hard way the importance of preparing for an interview.

It’s Spring 1990 and I’m a relatively novice reporter on a mission. I have my ‘trusty’ Uher (it’s a reel to reel tape recorder – which was less than trusty) slung over my shoulder and I’m waiting outside a conference hall in Colchester.

As assignments go at BBC Essex, this was a good one. My chance to interview someone at the centre of world events, someone who made news just by opening his mouth – Archbishop Desmond Tutu. What could possibly go wrong?

As you’ve probably guessed, quite a bit. The Uher had a habit of running out of battery just when you needed it most; but I’ve checked and it’s fully charged.

We hadn’t arranged an interview with his people, I’d been sent to ‘see what you can get.’ In other words, I’d be doorstepping him as he walked out of the building, always a bit risky. Would he have time to talk? Would his minders block me? Would he even want to give an interview to the local radio station?

As I waited, I scouted the area. Which way was he likely to walk? Is that his car parked over there? Should I sidle up to him and take him by surprise or stand in his way microphone ready?

Why I should have prepared my questions

Before I’d got firm answers in my head, the doors flew open and out strode the great man, entourage in his wake. With no time to hesitate I walked over and thrust out the mic. And then it dawned on me, in all the time I’d been thinking about how to get the interview, I hadn’t thought about the interview – what questions to ask.

My brain went into overdrive and suddenly I remembered something, so I blurted out, “When Nelson Mandela left prison, he came to stay with you – what did you say to him?”

The Archbishop, looked me in the eye, paused for a moment, and then with that mischievous grin of his said, “Hello!”

The crowd fell about laughing, my face went bright red, I mean scarlet, and I mumbled, “Oh…okay…”, before lamely asking, “And what did you talk about?”

To be fair the rest of the interview wasn’t a disaster, he is an amazing speaker, and the newsroom had a good laugh at my expense, but it did teach me a valuable lesson about preparation.

I never went into another interview, however hastily arranged, without plotting out my questions. If I ask this, they’ll say that, so I should ask this in response etc. Sure, interviews didn’t always go to plan but I was never lost for a question.

So how does that help you? In the same way that experienced reporters plan their interviews, there’s nothing stopping you from preparing too.

If you’re faced with a journalist, think about the questions they’re likely to ask you. Who, what, why, when, where and how are good places to start. That way you won’t be caught out, even if you get a stupid question from a novice reporter like me.