{"id":75651,"date":"2025-07-27T15:05:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T13:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/?post_type=magazin&p=75651"},"modified":"2026-09-27T21:53:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:53:51","slug":"interviewing-like-a-pro","status":"publish","type":"magazin","link":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/advice\/interviewing-like-a-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"Interviewing like a pro: how to stay in control, even with politicians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n\n
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Interviewing like a pro: how to stay in control, even with politicians.<\/strong> An interview with a politician can quickly turn into a power struggle. We show you how to conduct an interview with confidence, avoid typical interview traps and keep the upper hand even against professionals.<\/p>\n

\r\n Jelko Wronski<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n\n
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\n\n \"CDU\n\n German Savings Banks Day, Hannover, 28 June 2023. Photos: Martin Steger<\/span>\n \n

Friedrich Merz interviewed by former ZDF presenter Klaus Kleber<\/strong>. Leading politicians like him are media-savvy \u2013 they answer questions every day, steer topics and use every stage for their own agenda.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div> \n\n\n \n\n \n \n\n

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\n\n \"\"\n\n CDU party conference, Hannover, 10 September 2022<\/span>\n \n

Interview with the broadcaster Phoenix.<\/strong> In conversations with politicians, the way the interview is conducted often decides which topics come up at all.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div> \n\n\n \n\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Contents<\/h2>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n
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1. Going into the interview well prepared. <\/a><\/strong>What you need to know before the conversation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Staying in control during the conversation. <\/a><\/strong>How to steer the interview with confidence<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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3. When things get tricky.<\/strong><\/a> How to respond to rhetorical tactics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. After the interview is before the story.<\/strong><\/a> How to follow up successfully<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Mistakes happen. <\/a><\/strong>What matters is how you deal with them<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. Going into the interview well prepared<\/h2>\n\n

What you need to know before the conversation<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n

Good preparation determines how your interview goes. Expect a trial of strength \u2013 a battle over \u2018who keeps the upper hand in the conversation\u2019, says Hans-Peter Fischer<\/a>, journalism lecturer at Hochschule Hannover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Politicians pursue clear interests of their own \u2013 be aware of that before you go into the conversation. If you want to come across as confident, one thing matters above all, says Fischer: \u2018Research, research and research.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clarify the following questions before the interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Which party is the interviewee fighting for? <\/strong>
\u2022 What does the party stand for and pursue, and what does it campaign against? <\/strong>
\u2022 What are its current concerns and goals? Where does your interviewee stand within the party?
\u2022 What political agenda are they pursuing?
\u2022 What personal ambitions do they still have?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Once you have answered these questions,<\/strong> it\u2019s time to prepare the content. You should be just as much at home in the subject as the person you are interviewing. Find out the facts, the background and the lines of conflict, so that you don\u2019t lose control of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you need to form a picture of the person you\u2019ll be talking to. Past interviews are a good way to do this. Go through them so that you know what to expect. Ask yourself: was the person cooperative or confrontational in the past? Eloquent or monosyllabic? Have they mastered rhetorical tactics and evasion strategies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to treat what you find out only as a rough guide \u2013 after all, there\u2019s no guarantee that your interviewee will behave the same way next time. Their form on the day and their mood play a role too.<\/p>\n\n\n \n\n

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\n\n \"Politicians\n\n Angela Merkel interviewed by Marietta Slomka, \u2018ZDF heute\u2019, 12 February 2021<\/span>\n \n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div> \n\n\n \n\n \n \n\n
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\n\n \"Politicians\n\n Markus S\u00f6der interviewed by Lutz van der Horst, \u2018heute-show\u2019, 18 October 2024<\/span>\n \n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div> \n\n\n \n\n \n \n\n
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\n\n \"Politicians\n\n Robert Habeck interviewed by Andreas Wunn, \u2018ZDF-Morgenmagazin\u2019, 7 January 2025<\/span>\n \n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div> \n\n\n \n\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve ticked off these points<\/strong>, it\u2019s time to draw up a list of questions. It should follow a dramatic arc that you can orient yourself by during the conversation. Both the subject and the time available play a role here. If there is enough time, it helps to start with harmless questions and save the delicate, exciting ones for later in the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a well-prepared list can only give you security if you bear two things in mind. Under no circumstances should you reveal your questions in advance \u2013 otherwise you lose your position of power. And despite all your preparation, it is important to leave yourself room to react spontaneously to answers during the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately before the interview, you should also take time to check your technical equipment. Technical glitches not only make you look unprofessional; they can also eat away at your self-confidence and affect how assured you are in the conversation. You should also clarify whether the interviewee needs to approve the interview before any publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now your preparation is complete \u2013 you\u2019re sitting opposite your interviewee and nothing stands in the way of the interview. Or does it?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n

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