NPR Radio Interview Analysis

In this segment, Noah Adams interviews Alec Fraser about his collaboration with the late Jeff Healey on his CD, Mess of Blues.

The interviewer knew about the Jeff Healey's death and gave a brief summary of Healey's death and his passion for music at an early age. Adams only asked about two questions, but both were open-ended so that the interviewee could give long, detailed answers. Adams didn't really build up to the questions; he just welcomed Fraser and then went straight to his question. Even though it was Fraser that was being interviewed, he was not the subject of the interview, so I think Adams didn't feel it was necessary to ask any big questions that needed building up. The interviewer's strategy seemed to be asking questions that would bring a positive answer regarding Healey.

Adams also did something new to me, which was playing a piece of music after Fraser answered a question. After the short musical interlude, it would be Fraser talking again, answering his questions in complete answers so that the question was stated in his answer. I believe Adams did that twice and it gave a nice flow to the interview. I believe for this type of interview it was appropriate, but I wouldn’t do it in more “serious” type interviews.

I don't believe a relationship really developed as the interview was brief and not very in-depth. However, I did learn from this interview that you can phrase questions differently. For example, for one of Adam's questions, he started it with, "Do us a favor and explain...," and preceded his question. I think by phrasing it like this, the interviewer draws in the audience more by including them in his question.