Roses and Rockets - Two
This "Roses and Rockets" idea comes from my old mentor, Reuters, which used it to distribute compliments (Roses) or criticisms (Rockets) to its large force of correspondents and sub-editors during the 60s and 70s.
It was all in good spirit done for a vital feedback purpose. Even the best got a rocket once a while; and the newest recruit would sometimes earn a bouquet of roses.
Readers' contributions that are concise, informed and reasoned are very welcomed - but please, no personal complaints or rude remarks. Littlespeck will, of course, subject itself to the same criterion.
May 17, 2003

Roses

MediaCorp's Lisa Ang did a good job interviewing Pierre Png and Andrea De Cruz. Good short questions, well asked.

It was better than interviews (especially on radio) in which questioners, mostly for good intention, talk a bit too much.

They probably want to make doubly sure their interviewees - and the audience - understand what they're getting at. In most cases, that's not necessary. Most interviewees are intelligent people who know what is needed.

The point is this. The audience tunes in to listen - or view - what the interviewee has to say - not to listen to a journalist ramble away with a long statement before framing his question.

In fact, I have of some interviewers themselves giving the answers already when they ask their questions - like this one. "Some people say that so-and-so was insensitive when he uttered those words, while others say he was absolutely right in saying that. Which of the two do you think is right?"

That's hogging the answer. Just ask: "What do you think of his action?"

Some foreign shows throw up great teachers in the art of TV or radio interviews. Listen to Larry King or Barbara Walters. They ask short, sharp questions - direct to the point.

Sometimes the question is in one word: "Why" (No need to say more). Or just raising an eyebrow to ask: "Really? Do you really think so?"

The idea is - let the subject talk. The interviewer just guides it along.

Lisa Ang did that. She was quick to guide, with short questions, an interjecting comment to get some extra mileage out of an answer.

She allowed her subjects to talk. She guided with short questions - a few words here and there.

Another Singaporean lady I admired - and missed - as a TV interviewer is Zaharah Latiff. Her interview skills were impressive before she quit and the TV audience lost something.

Neutral

I think Singapore is about the only place in the world where a newspaper carries a story that says: "There will be no increases in bus and MRT fares this year."

Streats did exactly that on May 9. The reason? The Public Transport Council called a press conference to announce it.

It would, I told myself, have warranted a story only if a fare increase had been expected. But no one did since it was only last year when a much-disliked bus and train fare hike had taken place.

So why carry a long story about a non-story. Does it deserve a rocket? On second thought, I thought there was no need for it in the Singapore context.

The editor, I'm sure, must have considered "no fare hike" not as a no news but as a "good news" item. I'd rate it NEUTRAL.

Roses

Foe the same Streat newspaper for a good reporting (May 12) job of poor commuter behaviour in MRT trains. It got a "pregnant" reporter to check how many young men and women would offer their seats to her.

The answer showed a dismal state of social manners of Singaporeans, young and old.

Just as important were the photographs, showing people displaying all sorts of "tricks" to avoid giving up their seats - like sleeping, reading, turning away.

The worst cases were a few who even rushed to beat "a pregnant" lady to a seat. A good journalistic effort at salvaging some graces.
Seah Chiang Nee