My favorite interviewer is Terry Gross, host of Fresh Air, produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia. Although she is a radio journalist, her approach to interviewing would work extremely well for a writer.
Gross prepares for her interviews thoroughly. If a guest has written a book, she reads it. For actors, she sees their latest films and usually some earlier ones as well. She is known for asking off-beat questions that elicits enlightening responses. Her guests list is diverse, encompassing the worlds of the arts, entertainment and politics. Typically hard on politicians, Gross gives leeway to artists and musicians.
For all of her success as an interviewer, she has presided over several notorious interviews in which the guests balked or walked out. Her conflicts with rocker Gene Simmons and Fox News talk show host Bill O'Reilly are legendary.
If you are not familiar with her work, I suggest that you catch an episode of Fresh Air on NPR. I promise that you learn something unexpected.
DB Dewer
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