Person-on-the-street interview

Definition

A person-on-the-street interview is a spontaneous and informal style of interviewing where reporters engage with everyday people in public spaces to gather their opinions or reactions on specific topics. This technique captures the voice of the community and provides diverse perspectives, making it a valuable tool for journalists to convey public sentiment in a relatable way.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Person-on-the-street interviews are often unscripted, allowing for genuine and spontaneous responses from interviewees.
2. These interviews can be conducted in various public locations, such as streets, parks, or events, to maximize exposure to a diverse range of people.
3. Reporters often select participants based on their willingness to speak and their relevance to the topic at hand, leading to a mix of perspectives.
4. The information gathered from person-on-the-street interviews can be used to complement more formal reporting, providing a relatable human element to news stories.
5. Editing and context are crucial when using these interviews, as the snippets shared may not fully represent an individual's complete opinion.

Review Questions

• How do person-on-the-street interviews contribute to understanding public sentiment in news reporting?
  • Person-on-the-street interviews play a significant role in understanding public sentiment as they provide direct insights from everyday individuals. By capturing spontaneous reactions and opinions, these interviews reveal the diverse views within a community regarding current events or issues. This technique helps journalists present a more comprehensive picture of how the public feels, going beyond expert opinions and statistics.
• What challenges might journalists face when conducting person-on-the-street interviews, and how can they address these issues?
  • Journalists may encounter several challenges when conducting person-on-the-street interviews, including reluctance from individuals to participate, potential biases in selecting interviewees, and managing the variety of responses. To address these issues, reporters should approach individuals respectfully and create an inviting atmosphere. Additionally, they should strive for balance by including voices from different demographics and ensuring proper context is provided when presenting quotes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of person-on-the-street interviews as a journalistic tool compared to traditional interviews with experts or officials.
  • Person-on-the-street interviews are effective as they capture authentic public opinions and create relatability in news stories. Unlike traditional interviews with experts or officials that may offer authoritative perspectives, these informal conversations reflect grassroots sentiments and can resonate more with viewers. However, they can lack depth compared to expert insights; therefore, combining both methods enhances coverage by balancing expert knowledge with the voice of the community.

Related terms

Vox pop: A short segment that features interviews with members of the public, typically reflecting a variety of opinions on a specific issue.

Soundbite: A brief and catchy excerpt from an interview or speech that highlights the essence of what was said, often used in news broadcasts.

Public opinion polling: The process of gathering opinions from a representative sample of individuals to measure public sentiment on various issues.