INTERVIEW PROPOSAL

Interview Proposal

This interview proposal looks at the different ways, which I will use to prepare for my interview with Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon of Myanmar. It also outlines the kinds of research, which I will conduct in the preparation, and the methods I will use to identify the best and appropriate interview questions.

Aung San Suu Kyi has emerged the winner of the historic parliamentary seat in the just conducted by elections. As a journalist for BBC World Service, I have been assigned by my editor to visit Yangon, Myanmar so that I can interview the democracy icon of Myanmar on the implications of her victory. Before setting off on this journey, I need to prepare myself effectively so that I can get the most out of this interview.

Since Aung San Suu Kyi is a public figure, I will need to be well prepared. Firstly, I must have a plan, which will guide me all through and ensure that I flow from point to point without wasting time. Public figures do not have time to waste since they are often busy. Therefore, it is important to make sure that I stay on point, as this will ensure that the answers are not simply given so that she can finish the interview.

According to Doody and Noonan (2013), the absence of a friendly atmosphere will hinder you from getting the right responses for your questions since the respondent is not at ease. Therefore, I will research on the background of Aung San Suu Kyi so I can establish whether there is anything to guide me on preparing some small talks, which will set off our interview. Small talks may seem as a waste of time since it is often out of topic. Nevertheless, it is the most important part of an interview process if you need the results to be successful (Phillips, 2013).

Anticipating answers to interview questions is an effective measure when preparing for an interview (Dilley, 2000). Therefore, for all the questions I will come up with, I must have different possible answers and the follow up questions. This will help me prevent surprises and confusions. The questions will therefore be flowing smoothly since I will have backup questions in case she answers differently.

According to Lamb and Brown (2006), public officials have a habit of dodging questions, which they do not want to answer. They can do this by changing the subject or simply choosing to state that they cannot answer the question. I will be prepared for such an occurrence by practicing my confidence on insisting that she answers since it is for the best interest of the public. However, I will be willing to let go of personal questions to maintain the friendly atmosphere.

Since the objective of this research is to interview Aung San Suu Kyi on the implications of her victory, I have to research on the steps she took during her campaign. Probably, she has a number of people who advised her accordingly on what to do. In addition, it is possible that the people of Myanmar believed through her actions that she was the best person who will bring changes to that part of the world.

I will use qualitative research in preparation. I will prepare questions, which will be used to gather information from specific people who may have participated in the campaign. According to Doody and Noonan (2013), qualitative research is all about gathering deep information, which will help one to understand, better the certain human behaviors. With the help of qualitative analysis, I can investigate why this new candidate made certain decisions and why.

Choosing the best questions will depend on how effective the respondents will answer my questions. This is because I will apply their response and come up with a few interesting yet beneficial questions for the main interview with Aung San Suu Kyi.

While analyzing the answers, I will put myself in the shoes of listeners. Therefore, my curiosity will guide me in this quest since chances are high that what I want to know more about is the same think others are willing to hear. To make the session interesting, I will avoid any question, which will lead to a Yes or No answer. The best thing will be to twist the same question such that the respondent will have no choice but to answer through a short explanation.

It is very rare for public officials to give answers truthfully (Phillips, 2013). Maintaining eye contact throughout an interview will allow me to see when the respondent is trying to hide something. This will allow me to take steps, which will allow me to dig out new answers.

Since the interview will be aired live for the appropriate audience, I must switch off my phone to avoid interruptions, which may look rude and bad for my image.

When making comments and passing bridging points, I will ensure that no negative point is stated as this may taint the image of the respondent and as a result she may be disappointed and the interview will be ruined altogether.

The first question I will pose will be: tell us more about your background, where you grew up and the challenges you faced. This question will help the audience to understand her responses more since it helps them relate to her own story. The second question will be: what will you do to make Myanmar a better place? With this question, the respondents will know what to expect from her. The third question will be: what will you do to reform the economic and political system of Myanmar? Here she may answer about her plans and this will keep the people informed.

With the above guidance and proposals, the interview I will carry will be interesting and informative to all the audience.

References

Doody, O., & Noonan, M. (2013). Preparing and conducting interviews to collect data. Nurse Researcher, 20(5), 28-32.

Phillips, B. (2013). Camera ready: Preparing for your TV interview debut. Public Relations Tactics, 20(6), 9.

Dilley, P. (2000). Conducting Successful Interviews: Tips for Intrepid Research. Theory Into Practice, 39(3), 131.Dilley, P. (2000). Conducting Successful Interviews: Tips for Intrepid Research. Theory Into Practice, 39(3), 131.

Doody, O., & Noonan, M. (2013). Preparing and conducting interviews to collect data. Nurse Researcher, 20(5), 28-32.

Lamb, M. E., & Brown, D. A. (2006). Conversational apprentices: Helping children become competent informants about their own experiences. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology, 24(1), 215-234. doi:10.1348/026151005X57657