3 - Openings and closings

Summary

In 1982, John Nott, then the British Minister of Defense, was interviewed live on television after it was announced that he would retire from politics. When the interviewer began to question Nott's credibility and technical expertise, the Minister angrily announced that he was “fed up with this interview.” He then rose from his chair and removed his microphone, thus bringing the interview to an abrupt and unceremonious close. The interviewer, in an effort to normalize what was ostensibly a major breach of interview etiquette, responded with a brisk “thank you Mister Nott.” This incident was regarded as highly newsworthy and received substantial coverage by both broadcast and print journalists. It also stimulated much commentary and analysis in op-ed pieces and letters to the major British newspapers and periodicals. At year's end, the incident was included in BBC Television's review of its news and current affairs coverage.

Similar incidents have made headlines in the United States. During the 1992 presidential campaign, Ross Perot momentarily stormed out of an interview on the CBS program 60 Minutes. Although that particular segment of the interview was not aired initially, it was included in a special program commemorating the 25th anniversary of 60 Minutes.

These brief interactional episodes became newsworthy events because each was widely perceived as extraordinary, a massive departure from normal interview conduct. But what is “normal” in this context? More specifically, how do journalists and public figures normally enter into, and exit from, a news interview?