Ms. Deborah Wetzel

Deborah Wetzel, former host and morning news anchor for CBS Radio FM, and currently deputy press secretary of the New York City School Construction Authority, discussed an important basic communication skill to a packed audience at IABC/LI's January 17th meeting.Corporate communicators, freelance journalists, graphic artists and public relations professionals benefitted from the Ms.Wetzel's insights.Her specific focus was on how to interview someone else, but she also discussed how to be interviewed, as well.

Preparation

As the interviewer, draw up questions and place them in chronological order. If the interviewee is pressed for time, or if for any reason time is limited, place the most important questions at the top of your pile.You should also research the subject to be discussed or obtain background information on the interviewee. The interviewee should give the reporter something new or an angle that hasn't been covered before.
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Ms. Wetzel fielded questions during the interactive discussion with almost seventy participants.She geared her talk toward conducting a radio or television interview but her suggestions are equally applicable to print media interviews.