Thursday, February 17, 2011

BOOK REVIEW: Interviewing

Title: Interviewing

Author: Gail Sedorkin

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

RRP: $27.99

ISBN: 9781742370941

Release Date: February 2011

Pages: 216



Description:



A practical guide to all aspects of interviewing for print and broadcast journalists, and for writers.

Description

'...the quintessential catch-all of journalism interviewing with tips, techniques and tales covering all interviewing forms in one easy-to-read volume'.- Leo Bowman in Australian Studies in Journalism

Good interviewing is the key to good reporting and great stories. It's a difficult skill to acquire and it can be stressful, but you can learn how to approach a total stranger and elicit information on a topic about which you know nothing.

In the second edition of this widely used guide, experienced journalist Gail Sedorkin shows you step by step how to manage the interview process. She explains how to prepare, and what to do when you don't have time to do any research. She outlines the difference between 'soft' and 'hard' interviews, how to use digital tools effectively, and how to make the most of any interview situation.

With tips and examples from leading journalists, and covering basic to advanced techniques, Interviewing is an essential guide for journalists, researchers and writers.

About Gail Sedorkin

Gail Sedorkin has worked as a journalist on ABC Radio and for regional newspapers, and as a journalism educator at Central Queensland University and Deakin University, as well as for James Cook University. She is co-author of Reporting in a Multimedia World and Get Your Message Across.



Review:



Gail Sedorkin has the experience of being a university lecturer in journalism and also worked as a journalist for both the printed press and radio. With this background, Sedorkin is in a perfect position to write an authorative book on interviewing.



This book is structured to give both the journalism student and journalist with more experience a benefit from the wealth of experience. It shows how the questions asked have a huge impact on the direction that the interview will take. Depending on the type of interview conducted, print, broadcast, telephone or email, the techniques discussed are different.



There are also topics such as how to break the ice and how to do comprehensive and valuable research to make the interviews more captivating.



Excellent book for those who wish to pursue a career in journalism.

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