Make Assertions
Most inexperienced interviewees make the mistake of going into an interview wondering what might be asked and hoping they will have the answers. But the key to effective interviews is to know ahead of time what youwant to say and then create opportunities to say it. Carefully select two or three specific themes you would like to discuss or messages you want to convey.
To help you determine what you should prepare to say, carefully consider the answers to the three questions below. Write your answers on a blank sheet of paper.
- How does the public view the subject to be discussed?
- In light of these public opinions, what questions might the interviewer ask?
- What do you want to accomplish in the interview?
- Consider the “human side” of our faith when talking about stories that are appropriate for it.
EXAMPLE
Situation: A local television reporter became curious about the Church after two missionaries knocked at her door. The station now wants to film a five-minute sequence of two missionaries tracting and teaching, followed by an eight-minute studio interview with a Church spokesman to discuss the missionary program.
- How does the public view the subject to be discussed?
Those who have met missionaries probably found them to be polite and sincere, but uninvited religious callers are generally not welcome. Some people might believe that the Church pays its young people to be missionaries. They might also have questions about whether the Church is Christian.
- In light of these public opinions, what questions might the interviewer ask?
Why does the Church send missionaries to a Christian country?
Doesn't the Church realize that these visits are not popular and could be considered an invasion of privacy?
- What do you want to accomplish in the interview?
Help the viewers understand the sincerity and commitment of the missionaries.
Help the viewers understand that the missionaries are doing this work because they want to serve Jesus Christ. Establish that the Church respects each person's freedom of choice and teaches its missionaries to act accordingly.
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You now know what key points you want to make. When phrased as simple, direct statements, these key points are called assertions. You support each assertion with statements and figures. List your assertions below in order of priority. Look at the example on the next page before you begin.
1.
2.
EXAMPLE
Assertion 1: Missionaries are sincere, deeply committed young people and couples who voluntarily give 18 months or two years of their lives to share what they know.
Support: Missionaries are unpaid. They usually save their own money to provide this service, or they are supported by their families.
Missionaries interrupt their education, leave their families and friends, and serve the Lord for two years. They do not take vacations, watch television or movies, or participate in other kinds of recreation.
Assertion 2: The missionaries are motivated by their personal knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Savior and that living the way He taught can bring people true happiness.
Support Missionaries could not do what they do unless they believed strongly that Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior.
Every prayer these missionaries offer and every lesson they teach is done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Assertion 3: Missionaries are taught to always respect the rights of others. If people do not want to hear what they have to say, the missionaries are instructed to leave politely. But because we believe in freedom of choice, we want to offer everyone the opportunity to hear us.
Support In today's society, there are millions of people who are lonely and who feel life should have more to offer them. Even people who have achieved financial success often feel that something is missing. Millions of people throughout the world have joined the Church and embraced the gospel because it fills their lives with purpose and happiness.
Complaints about missionaries are rare. But if a missionary's conduct is ever less than it should be, the Church wants to know so the problem can be addressed. We hope people will call us directly if problems occur.
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Making assertions and then supporting them is the most important element of effective interviews. You can't ignore the question being asked, but you can build your own assertion into a reply. If you answer only the questions asked, you will never be in control of the conversation and might not get to make your central points. You might find it helpful to practice making your assertions with someone before the interview.
EXAMPLE
Question: Your Church must know how unpopular your missionaries are when they call unannounced. Do you know what it is like to be interrupted in your home just when the baby is crying or you're about to sit down to dinner?
Poor answer: God has commanded us to preach the gospel, and everyone must have an opportunity to hear it.
Better answer: A sensitive missionary will quickly leave if he or she sees that the visit is at an inconvenient time. We receive many comments about how polite our missionaries are. In fact, if a missionary's conduct is ever less than it should be, we want to be the first to hear about it. Missionaries are taught to respect the rights of others.
There are many millions of people out there who are lonely and feel life is empty. . . .
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Support Your Assertions
After you make an assertion, you should support it. You can do this in the following ways:
Use facts and statistics. In many interviews you will need to use statistics that you have gathered before the interview. To use them effectively, do the following:
- Keep them simple.
- Use figures sparingly. Two or three key figures can strengthen your point, but too many statistics are boring.
- Be descriptive. Don't just say, "We had five thousand convert baptisms in this country last year." Say, "Five thousand people have joined our Church in this country since January. That's a thousand more than a year ago."
Briefly relate personal experiences. The greatest teacher taught in parables. Modern-day analogies and examples can support your assertions. They help the listener to understand and remember the point you are making. But be brief, and avoid rambling stories.
Present the opinions of experts. Support your assertions by referring to the work of accepted experts in the field. For example, in a discussion on the Church's health code, you could say, "According to the surgeon general of the United States. . . . "
Additional Hints
- It is vital that your statements be brief. Long and rambling statements won't be used. Try to limit each comment or response to less than 30 seconds. Practice giving brief responses to anticipated questions. But do not memorize responses.
- Make your main assertion immediately. Don't be vague at the beginning and expect to build to your main point.
- Repeat your main assertions in different ways as opportunities arise. You want your audience to recognize and remember your main points, so you must repeat them.
- Even if you have had extensive discussions with the producer, talk to the interviewer before you go on the air, if possible. You often can learn something about how he will approach the subject.
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