Redirecting questions

Definition

Redirecting questions is a strategic interviewing technique where the interviewer shifts the focus of the conversation to guide the subject's responses towards more relevant or insightful areas. This approach is essential when interviewing public officials and experts, as it helps clarify complex topics, encourages deeper insights, and ensures that the most important issues are addressed during the conversation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Redirecting questions can help maintain control over an interview by steering the conversation back to key points when it strays off topic.
2. This technique can be particularly useful when dealing with evasive or unclear responses from public officials and experts.
3. Using redirecting questions allows the interviewer to probe deeper into specific issues, leading to more comprehensive and informative answers.
4. Effective redirecting often involves rephrasing the original question to make it clearer or more focused for the interviewee.
5. This strategy helps ensure that critical issues are discussed, especially in fast-paced news environments where time is limited.

Review Questions

• How does redirecting questions enhance the quality of interviews with public officials and experts?
  • Redirecting questions enhances the quality of interviews by allowing the interviewer to guide the conversation toward relevant topics and important issues. This technique helps clarify complex responses and encourages interviewees to delve deeper into their expertise. As a result, audiences receive clearer and more meaningful information, which is especially vital when discussing critical subjects in public affairs.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of redirecting questions compared to traditional questioning methods in interviews.
  • Redirecting questions are often more effective than traditional questioning methods because they adapt to the flow of conversation and address potential gaps in information. Unlike rigid questioning, which can lead to surface-level answers, redirecting encourages a dynamic exchange that fosters deeper insights. This adaptability is crucial when interviewing public officials, as it helps navigate through political jargon and unearths substantial information that may otherwise be overlooked.
• Synthesize how redirecting questions can impact viewer perception during news interviews with public officials.
  • Redirecting questions can significantly impact viewer perception by shaping how information is presented and interpreted. When an interviewer skillfully redirects questions, it not only clarifies the subject's stance but also highlights pressing issues for the audience. This technique can enhance transparency and accountability, allowing viewers to form more informed opinions about public officials' decisions and actions based on the depth of information provided during the interview.

Related terms

Follow-up Questions: Questions that are asked in response to a previous answer, aimed at gaining deeper understanding or clarification on a specific point.

Open-ended Questions: Questions that cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no', encouraging the interviewee to provide more detailed responses.

Active Listening: The practice of fully concentrating, understanding, and responding thoughtfully to a speaker's message during an interview.