As we enter the critical stage of the election, the candidates have already started to make the interview rounds. You might be called upon to do one of those candidate interviews. Here, with some nods to things I’ve seen in interviews thus far and in previous cycles, are some rules to live by if you find yourself in a studio with a candidate, whether presidential or down ballot:
1. Don’t ask the candidates what they’ll do on Day One of their administration. It’s a cliché. Besides, THEY really don’t know what they’re going to do on Day One yet.
2. Don’t state a talking point from the candidates’ opponents and ask for a reaction. It only lends credibility to those talking points, and that’s not your job.
3. Don’t ask about the candidates’ biographies. Anyone can get that online.
4. Don’t let the candidates evade a question. Follow up. Ask the question again. Don’t move on until you get an answer or make it clear that the question wasn’t answered.
5. Don’t ask compound questions. Asking two questions at once gives the subject the opening to ignore one of the questions, and it’s rare that an interviewer with one eye on the clock will go back and repeat the other question.
6. Do ask the candidates what they’ll do about things that actually matter to voters, and not just in general terms. “The economy” isn’t specific enough and means different things to different voters. Supermarket prices? There you go. And while we’re at it, nobody’s asking about health care costs, and the price of health care in America is one of the most universal topics. So is the cost of education. So is climate change, and infrastructure issues. Those should mean more to your audience than the stuff candidates raise as scare-tactic politics, and it’s something other news outlets aren’t doing, so you’ll stand out.
7. Do remember that the candidates aren’t gods walking among us. They are people just like everyone else. They deserve the same respect you’d give anyone else, but do not let them intimidate you.
8. Don’t fawn over a candidate even if you like and support them. Again, they’re just people. You’re allowed to like a candidate, you’re allowed to vote for them, you’re allowed to have an opinion, but kissing any interview subject’s butt is embarrassing and unnecessary. Save the idolatry for off the air.
9. Do remember that this interview may be forgotten in a matter of days or even hours, so if you screw it up, it’s not the end of the world. (If the candidate screws up, however, it could live forever.)
10. If you’re sick and tired of all the candidates and all of the election stuff and polling and rallies and controversies, remind yourself that in just a couple of months, it’ll be over. At least, this part of it will be over. Last time, things got even messier all the way through January. But you’ll have that to talk about.
Perry Michael Simon is a weekly news media columnist for Barrett Media. He previously served as VP and Editor/News-Talk-Sports/Podcast for AllAccess.com. Prior to joining the industry trade publication, Perry spent years in radio working as a Program Director and Operations Manager for KLSX and KLYY in Los Angeles and New Jersey 101.5 in Trenton. He can be found on X (formerly Twitter) @PMSimon.
