newsnight

It isn't just her; it seems to be the way people conduct interviews these days. Must be honest and say that I don't watch much political stuff these days, but I was watching Newsnight tonight and I thought exactly the same. I mentioned it to the S.O. a few weeks ago [he does watch more than I do] and he said it happens all the time. It's as if they conduct the interview but don't appear to be listening to what the person they're interviewing is saying.

I think the problem is that this item was preceded by quite a long report from a hospital and then only a small amount of time was allocated for the interview.

This happens a lot on the TV (and the radio). Really important subjects are given about 5-10 mins air time and the issues can't be discussed or investigated meaningfully.

It is a pet hate of mine felice.

I often refer to poor interviewing skills and I do feel the BBC is the worst of the lot. Why ask for someone's thought if you don't listen thoroughly to what they say. News night is particularly bad also the BBC news team, Sky are much better but they are getting a bit more 'aggressive' lately.

On the other hand, interviewees often try to keep talking without actually answering the question. In such cases, interviewers feel compelled to interrupt, particularly when there is limited time available.

I'm sure they showed a programme about David Frost after he died and he said how important it is for the interviewer to actually listen to what the inerviewee is saying [which is kind of obvious but obviously doesn't happen].

I tend to avoid most TV/radio interviews these days. Often the general interview style tends to be combative and aggressive. The interviewer usually has a scripted agenda and the interviewee is either bombarded into submission or cut off in mid-stream. The facts are rarely drawn out or allowed to come out. Other things that annoy me: the use of endless meaningless statistics coupled with flashy graphics, and the use of one example to justify a broad conclusion.

Sensation, shouting and rudeness seem to be the order of the day, and I think much of that flows from the 'super-egos' of today's inflated and over-paid interviewers. Something else that really annoys me is the transfer of the main news presenter to the site of a disaster or catastrophe anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat. I just cannot see the point of it, apart from just nasty voyeurism and ogling.

Paxman and Wake are particularly bad examples of the interviewing breed, and I just ignore their overblown arrogance and pomposity.

Politicians and CEOs of large corporations are well trained in evading direct questions and waffling on, making sure that they give no opportunity for the interviewer to ask them to answer the question. Hence the interviewer interrupts and is then accused of being egotistical, etc.

Granted some interviewers do like the sound of their own voices and interrupt unnecessarily.

In my opinion one of the finest and most sensitive interviewers on radio is Shelagh Fogarty of BBC Radio 5 Live. Richard Bacon, on the other hand, pursues his own agenda, albeit with great enthusiasm.

Well said papaoscar

Jeremy Vine never listens either and cuts off people who don't agree with him in a very rude way. Can't stand him.

Anno - Thanks, I shall make a point of listening in to Shelagh F on R5. It should be said, of course, that many interviewees are professional highly-trained windbags who specialise in saying nothing much at length, or just not answering the questions at all. Then it is the task of the good interviewer to unravel their evasions, after all that is what they are there for. In those cases no amount of hectoring and shouting will produce results, but persistent, restrained questioning often will. I'm not saying its easy but it is the interviewers task, after all. If they can't do it they should take up knitting or something really difficult like retiring!

I'm sorry, I know this is sexist/clothesist whatever - but what does Kirsty Wark think she looks like tonight?? I've noticed her lack of clothes sense before, but honestly...

And what is Anne Robinson doing in those big glasses with round red frames? Hideous!