Pre-Interview Preparation in Business Broadcasting

Editorial Preparation

Editorial preparation for a business executive interview begins with the identification of the editorial purpose of the interview. What is the programme attempting to communicate to its audience? What information does the executive possess that serves that purpose? These questions are prior to any logistical planning and should guide all subsequent preparation.

Once the editorial purpose is established, the producer and editorial team work to identify the specific topics that the interview should cover and the level of detail appropriate to the programme's audience. This involves research into the subject area — sufficient to understand the context and significance of the topics to be addressed — and an assessment of what the executive is likely to know, willing to say, and able to communicate clearly within the interview's constraints.

Guest Coordination

Coordinating an executive interview guest involves more than scheduling. The production team must communicate clearly with the executive and, usually, with their communications advisers about the programme's editorial focus, the expected duration and format of the interview, and any specific areas that may be addressed. This communication is a courtesy and an editorial alignment exercise: it reduces the risk of misunderstanding on the day and increases the likelihood that the executive will be prepared to address the topics the programme needs to cover.

The pre-interview communication with an executive guest should not extend to sharing specific questions in advance unless the programme's editorial standards permit this. Some formats do share questions in advance for certain categories of interview; others consider advance question-sharing inconsistent with editorial integrity. The practice varies across broadcast contexts and is ultimately an editorial policy decision.

Topic Research and Question Development

Effective question development for a business executive interview requires substantive research into the interview subject. Questions that demonstrate genuine familiarity with the topic are more likely to elicit informed and specific responses than generic questions; they also signal to the executive that the interview is being conducted by a knowledgeable party, which tends to produce more serious and considered responses.

The question sequence should be designed with the interview's editorial purpose in mind. Opening questions typically establish context and put the executive at ease; intermediate questions address the core editorial substance; closing questions may invite forward-looking or reflective responses. The sequence should be flexible enough that the interviewer can adapt in response to the actual flow of the conversation.