New broadcaster how-to guide: Asking better questions

| September 19, 2022

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As broadcasters and producers, we ask many questions every day. It’s how we get the information we need to make our scripts, our programs, and our reports.

In our hurry to get the information we want, or because we have a preconceived notion of what we want or expect our interviewee to say, we often ask “leading questions.” These are questions that can make it difficult for an interviewee to answer openly and honestly because they implicitly ask the interviewee to answer in a particular way. 

To be respectful of your interviewees and your listeners, it is important to ask better questions—ones that do not lead the interviewee to give the type of answer they believe the interviewer wants or expects to hear.

This new broadcaster how-to guide on “Asking better questions” answers the following questions:

  • What do we mean by “better questions?”
  • How can asking better questions help me serve my listeners better?
  • How can asking better questions help me produce better programs?
  • How do I get started?

In this guide, you will learn how to: 

  • Plan your interview,
  • Be aware of the different types of questions and their purpose,
  • Write out your questions, avoiding leading questions,
  • Prepare questions that are specific, based on your research,
  • Prepare different kinds of questions, and
  • Be prepared to ask good follow-up questions.

To read the guide, go to: https://training.farmradio.fm/asking-better-questions/ 

Farm Radio International will host a special learning event on this resource. To attend, register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HqQvF4MqToKEiqpJngH9lw