Interviewing the Interviewer (vulture.com)

Terry Gross, NPR's The Fresh Air host, on the art of the Q&A: "People are always projecting things. They're hearing things that weren't said or projecting meaning that was not intended and, perhaps, not even implied. I've gotten both insults and compliments for interviews I've never done. What can you do? There's no way of controlling what people think. I do have a bullshit detector and it's something I'll use, but I do think I try and be empathetic to everyone I interview," said Terry Gross.

Comments

The nerd connection

[DrTJ]

So this is an interview where one interviewer interviews and another interviewer who usually interviews some famous people?

Where's the nerd connection? Is it that the nerds among us would start genering jokes about the meta-levels of interviewing?

Can we reach level three here by having a slashdot Q&A with the author? Level four, anybody?

Re:The nerd connection

[hey!]

Terry Gross is probably the best in the world at what she does. I find that interesting. How did she get that way? Well it turns out that fear of not being good enough is at least part of what makes her good at her job. I find that interesting too.

How did she end up doing what she does? She failed at something else (being a writer). That's something that resonates in tech.

And she talks about making the trolls angry.

But ultimately being exposed to different information than you're used to isn't tantamount to an injury. It's good for you, just like reading an article on technology would be good for someone who mainly reads about public affairs, or art history.

Re:The nerd connection

[quonset]

But ultimately being exposed to different information than you're used to isn't tantamount to an injury. It's good for you,

Which is why Republicans are continually trying to kill NPR. It exposes people to different ideas, different points of view, different lifestyles, different people. That can't be allowed to happen.

Imagine the chaos which would ensue if people could get information about what was happening not only in their country, but around the world, and not be told what to think.

Re:The nerd connection

[kencurry]

Sometimes she roots out weird stuff and tech you would never have guessed. I remember her interview with a Dr. so & so who wrote a bio on Kellogg family. their story had weird religion & social engineering, but also very science oriented. Legit nutrition science for cereals as a quick breakfast for children back when that was not a simple thing. I learned a lot on that interview. So, yeah, there is good nerdy tech in her interviews, but it's surrounded by thoughts and stories of the artists, scientists, people etc.

Re:The nerd connection

[PCM2]

Terry Gross is probably the best in the world at what she does.

Wow, I just couldn't disagree more. I stopped listening to her years ago because of her softball interviewing style, with questions that are either uninformed or ignorant or that just plain miss the point. If her interview subjects end up saying really interesting things, it's not because of anything Terry Gross did. I think she's really terrible, and I'm not talking about political interviews, either. If she had Guillermo del Toro on, I expect she'd ask him how he first got interested in water.

Why the quotes?

[Anonymous Coward]

NPR to be informed.

I don't get why folks have a problem with NPR. It's the only news source that I can actually hear both sides without the yelling and other bullshit - they do have many conservatives and Republicans on and let them say what they have to say. As a matter of fact, it's the only source where I can actually hear and understand the conservative side because the NPR folks actually ask decent questions.

And NPR is the news source that keeps me a centrist and not drinking the Leftist Kool-Aid because I can hear the rational versions of the conservative side - unlike Fox News.

I also can hear the rational side of the liberal side.

Re:Why the quotes?

[MightyYar]

It's the best of the "two sides to every story" echo chamber. But as your comment reinforces, we are stuck in a two party mentality and getting a slick spokesman from the Democrat and Republican parties to comment on your show does not illuminate a path to the truth. I listen to NPR all the time, but their bias is sufficient to make me chuckle. Some of the in-depth shows on NPR are excellent - to some extent the news shows are limited by their format. Terry Gross, on topic, once did an interview with Bill O'Reilly. Now, he is a tremendous asshole - but her interview was immediately combative and he ended up walking off the set. During the interview, O'Reilly pointed out that she had just interviewed Al Franken - a fellow political entertainer - and he was given a softball interview. Listening to the Franken interview, it is true - it was a lovefest. I still listen to her and respect her, but her political bias is obvious.

Astute

[DaMattster]

Say what you will about Terry Gross, but she is an astute observer and has a breadth of knowledge about human psychology from the sheer number of years that she has spent interviewing and studying people. I find her personally overbearing and a little annoying but I will give her the credit she is due. However, I do like it when her bullshit-o-meter hits critical mass and she can no longer hold back. People need a good solid dose of reality at times.

Re: Why is this on Slashdot?

[MightyYar]

I was just trying to cut Terri a break - but whether or not you agree that he is charming is not really important to make my point. She clearly approached the two men very differently and my assertion is it was (perhaps unconscious) bias on her part.