STOP CALLING SOFT CONVERSATIONS “INTERVIEWS”
India doesn't have a shortage of interviewers. India has a shortage of questions . We have turned interviewing into a strange performance where the interviewer wants to be liked by the person sitting across the table. The powerful person smiles. The interviewer smiles. The camera rolls. And then comes the question: “Sir, how do you manage to work so hard?” “How do you stay so energetic?” “What do you eat?” “How do you study so much?” “What is your morning routine?” And occasionally: “How do you eat your mango?” Really? That is what we are spending the microphone on? You have five minutes with someone who possesses enormous political, economic, cultural or institutional power—and your greatest question is about their mango? That isn't journalism. That's access journalism. THE INTERVIEWER IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE FAN The interviewer is not there to collect selfies with power. Not to collect compliments. Not to manufacture viral clips. Not to become famous because a famous pe...
