Or, quit your status
Recently, one of the readers expressed an opinion that allegedly there is a norm in abroad, which says that prior to publishing the interview, the ready text should be presented to the the interviewee, to get his “okay” and then publish it. If there were such a rule, then there would be no journalism. It would be a PR of officials, politicians, MPs, and stars. This “norm” usually functions in the case when the interviewee is the owners of given TV company or the website. In that case, he can leave the questions and answers convenient only to him and smooth down all sharp angles. Often, such interviews are proceeding in writing, and it turn out to be a perfect banality.
For example, Robert Kocharyan’s “interviews” to 2rd.am are not actually interviews. Apparently, they are the second president’s statements on various topical issues, which as a formality begin with a question. Approximately the same is done by the first and the current presidents, as well as by dozens other politicians. This “genre” cannot be called an interview. The latter implies a live communication, at which the journalist depending on its talent and experience, should be able to extract sincere and new information containing answers.
If you’re a public figure, then you must be ready for sudden and sharp questions, for the situation that 2- out of 10-minute monologue will be left, as well as for the situation that any of your word will be used and interpreted in any form. It can be harped on or cut out of the context. It’s certainly hard, but otherwise you should quit the “bliss” of being a public figure. The choice is yours.
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No matter how negative I treat Vladimir Putin, I cannot but evaluate the severity of his mind, the ability of quickly orienting during the hours-long live press conferences. Of course, the question there are prepared and filtered, but still it is not possible to memorize all of them. The ability of quickly orienting, probably, generates from Russian President’s previous work experience.
Experienced on stage, but “inexperienced” in the political arena, Shushan Petrosyan, answering extremely polite journalist’s quite normal question at the National Assembly, suddenly recalled that the journalists have done a lot bad to her, that they are executing an order, that two years ago her interview to radio “Liberty” was cut off, and so on. All of these images suddenly appeared before her, and she frankly told her opinion that all journalists are immoral.
If Shushan were from one of “non-ruling” factions, this categorical and generalizing allegation would go away easily. Later, the MP would explain that she meant the “government servicing” journalists, and thus would have collected even dividends with other journalists. But the singer is unfortunate for being a Republican, which itself is a very uncomfortable public position. In this case, measure ten times, cut once. As a singer, I highly appreciate Shushan. Let me give one more little advice, no need to say, “a devoted person like me.” None of us has the right to give such an assessment to ourselves.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
