Gayle King and R. Kelly Interview
Interview styles and strategies can be vary depending on the surroundings and context. A sports reporter talking to a star athlete would not have the same interview style as a political correspondent questioning a foreign ambassador, and a news host would not use the same tone and questions to interview citizens after a natural disaster as they would talk to a child enjoying a local fair. Although there are many traits of a well-made interview that depend on the context and situation, there are also many attributes that are necessary in every case.
I believe the interview with Gayle King and R. Kelly is a good example of a well conducted interview. When this interview took place, Kelly’s name was in the media constantly with a sexual abuse scandal that he was facing charges for. King uses purposeful, to-the-point questions and remains a calm composure throughout the interview.
When Kelly constantly tries to overstep and lead the interview with the narrative he wants, King calmly brings him back to the questions and does not give him power over the situation. King asked many closed-ended questions that prompted clear answers. When she asked difficult questions, she backed them with facts and evidence.
In the tensest moment of the interview, Kelly begins yelling and angrily rises from his seat. Even throughout Kelly’s aggressive actions, King remains calm and seated in her chair. She allows Kelly to express his rage while his publicist attempts to calm him. Kelly collects himself and later continues the interview.
This interview covered a very personal and sensitive topic that could have ended in an angry rage, but King’s strategies made an informative interview that was not one-sided or lacking in substance, but also concluded peacefully.
