Vox/Pops & Interviewing for Radio

VOX POP(Voice of People)

VOX POP

Series of brief statements from a number of people, tightly edited and designed to give an indication of public opinion on a current issue, event etc.

Allows people’s participation

Editing of Vox Pop(Compiling the best parts of each recording

into a series of statements)

VOX POP

Characteristics:

Variety of different voices Contrast of opinion (pro-con) selected at random

VOX POP

Purpose: To,

Reflect public opinion encourages people’s participation provide authenticity/ credibility make topics more lively and attractive Overcome gap between radio and listener

VOX POP

Constraints: Time-consuming editing people afraid to speak out Language problem Lack of training Lack of managerial support

VOX POP

Misconceptions:

Ordinary people have nothing to say Radio only for professionals Interviews remain anonymous

VOX POP

Rules:

Stick to one question only keep recordings short and snappy voice clips only (on links or questions)

VOX POP

Give listeners the feeling that their participation in radio programming is welcome and wanted – and they will gain confidence in

themselves, their radio and their government

VOX POP

Each Vox Pop sound byte should be short and incisive,

not more than 15 to 20 seconds long.

VOX POP

Select Topic of your own on which you want to conduct a

vox pop

Operating Recorders

Practical work

Research&

Interviewing

Research:

• Importance of Research• Four steps of research process

1. Stories already published or broadcast2. Public Sources3. Anonymous sources4. Victims

Types of Interviews:

• Informational

• Interpretive Interview

• Emotional Interview

Interviewer

Interviewee Listener

Subject

Know your:• Subject• Interviewee• Own role

• Listener• purpose

Do proper research Expert/ celebrity/ ordinary person Mouth piece of the listener You are not the star Age, interest, information needs Enlighten, Gather options Convey information, Entertain Create awareness, Move, Change attitudes

The Interview

The Art of Interviewing:

Before Know your concept Research your topic Select your interviewee Organize your questions Brief your interviewee

The Art of Interviewing:

During Listen carefully Let the interviewee lead you to the

next question Stick to your structure Keep your questions short and tight

The Art of Interviewing:

After: A short briefing session with interviewee Listen to your interview Note down points of improvement

(Get used to listening your voice on tape)

The Art of Interviewing:

Do’s Come well prepared Arrive a little early Test your equipment before interview Take spare batteries Ask one question at a time Adjust your language and tone to the situation Ask questions that your listeners would like to have answered Be a good listener

The Art of Interviewing:

Don'ts Start with the most provocative question Jump too quickly from one question to another Be afraid of silence Make personal remarks Give unnatural breaks Impose yourself forget to end with a good “tag”

(A strong point of argument or amusement will make your interview memorable)

Remember:

• Be focused• Listen, Listen and Listen

News Interviews are only 20 seconds longSo no need to record too much material

Exercise

30 min