Interviewing tips for journalists

Pix by Mediahelpingmedia

(Media Helping Media) - Always be polite, know what you want, do your research, listen to the person you are interviewing and remain alert for unexpected news angles - just a few tips for getting a strong interview.

The following module was written for media trainers at the Media Resources and Training Centre (MRTC) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, who requested some tips for their students on how to prepare for and conduct an interview.

Seven Years and Counting: Deyda's Killers Remain At large

Slain journalist leader - Deyda Hydara

 Gunmen who remain at large killed Deyda Hydara, co-proprietor and managing editor of The Point newspaper, in a drive-by shooting on the night of the 13^th

anniversary of his newspaper, December 16, 2004.

His murder plunge Gambia's media fraternity into a mood of despondency that it is yet to recover from. Since then, the media in the country has been commemorating the event with public lectures, addressing pertinent issues that affect journalism, journalists and development in general.

The Gambia Government has repeatedly denied having a hand in Deyda's death.

Next International Prosecutor dismiss claims that 'ICC witch-hunt Africans'

Gambian-born Bensouda is new ICC Prosecutor

Newly elected Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Gambia’s Fatou Bensouda has dispelled claims that the Court setup by a treaty focuses excessively on Africa.

"I think ICC is working for Africa and with African victims," the 50 year-old Bensouda told international media shortly after her election. "I don't think any of us can deny that the crimes, the atrocities that are happening in Africa are crimes that fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC."

Botswana President Seretse Khama agreed. "The reality is that atrocious human rights abuses and other serious crimes that merit ICC's attention have and continue to be committed in Africa, and in the majority of situations, it is Africans themselves who invite the intervention of the court," he is quoted to have told the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC.

African viewpoint: Jammeh, Aids and infertility

(BBC) In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, former BBC Focus on Africa deputy editor and Ghanaian government minister Elizabeth Ohene recalls meeting The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh, who was re-elected last week, after he seized power in a coup in 1994.

 

Gambia's Yahya Jammeh ready for 'billion-year' rule

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh speaks to reporters as he leaves
a polling station in Banjul November 24 (AFP)

(BBC) - The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has told the BBC that he will rule for "one billion years", if God wills. 

He said critics who accused him of winning last month's elections through intimidation and fraud could "go to hell".

The West African regional body Ecowas said the electorate had been "cowed by repression".