Interviewer Approach
Jeremy Paxman approaches Michael Howard in his normal serious and direct tone. Paxman uses quotes in order to try to gain honest answers from Howard. Twelve times Paxman asked Mr Howard “Did you threaten to overrule him?” and every time Michael Howard avoided answering the question.
Jeremy Paxman doesn’t begin interviews with lighter questions in order to build trust between himself and the interviewee, instead he begins with serious questions in a direct manner which sets the tone for the duration of the interview.
Question Types
The questions Jeremy Paxman asks Michael Howard are very serious questions, “Mr Howard, have you ever lied in a public statement?”. This helps set the tone for the interview, which, when Paxman is concerned, is always very serious and direct. Jeremy Paxman uses quotes in order to back up his questions, and try to get a direct answer from Michael Howard. Paxman asks closed questions in order to get Michael Howard to answer purely the question, but Michael Howard is good at avoiding the question and is obviously reluctant to give a direct answer.
Interview Style
Jeremy Paxman’s interview with Home Secretary Michael Howard is a hard-news style of interview. The questions Paxman asks are rather closed types of questions in order to gain an answer from Howard to the question, although Michael Howard is very good during the interview of giving direct answers to the questions.
Interview Structuring
The interview with Home Secretary Michael Howard is only eight minutes long, but is rather fast-paced throughout the duration of the interview. There is no light questions at the beginning as this is a hard-news style of interview, so all of the questions Paxman asks Michael Howard are very serious and direct, and although Paxman tries to get an answer to the question from Michael Howard, the Home Secretary is very good at avoiding the question.
The interview ends with Paxman saying “Michael Howard, thank you”, with Michael Howard simply responding “Thank you”.
Purpose of the interview
The purpose of the interview was for Michael Howard to respond to some of the stories which has been published in the newspapers, like The Daily Mail, because it was damaging towards his reputation and his party.
Type of media and the target audience
The interview with Home Secretary Michael Howard was televised on BBC’s ‘Newsnight’ program. The target audience for this interview is viewers of the ‘Newsnight’ program, people who have an interest in politics, and people who want to hear Michael Howard’s response to the stories in the papers, surrounding himself and his party.
Analysing Interviews 