I was out yesterday doing some reporting on a pretty standard-issue news story. I did a bunch of five-minute interviews with people, and I was frustrated and surprised that I just couldn't get anyone to open up...you know, really tell me anything. "Joey" just made me believe in the power of the five-minute interview again.
It is raw, and not for everyone's air...but I gotta say, honesty makes such good radio. And "Joey" brought that out in his subject. Kudos.
The interviewer, Joey, is just as much a character in the piece as the guy he's interviewing. That's what gives this piece its fly-on-the-wall realness. It would serve very well as part of a larger exploration of the topic.
This intimate conversation between 2 young men provides some insight into the little discussed phenomenon of cutting. In an ideal world, you would hear that the cutter is receiving treatment that is helping him overcome it, but you don't, so it is uncomfortable listening; But nonetheless important listening.
Could be used with great effect, as an opener on a youth-focused call-in show, to introduce the subject matter, and prompt discussion.
People expect to turn to public radio and hear what they won't hear anywhere else. THIS is a piece that you would not hear anywhere but on public radio -- a window into a life that we would never see otherwise. At first the raw nature of this put me off. I thought it was staged. But within minutes I realized it for what it was -- an incredibly valuable contribution to our understanding of others.
Comments for Joey Interviews a Cutter
This piece belongs to the series "Incarcerated Youth Speak Out"
Produced by Joey
Other pieces by Blunt Youth Radio Project
Rating Summary
4 comments
John Dankosky
Posted on March 05, 2004 at 03:55 AM | Permalink
Review of Joey Interviews a Cutter
I was out yesterday doing some reporting on a pretty standard-issue news story. I did a bunch of five-minute interviews with people, and I was frustrated and surprised that I just couldn't get anyone to open up...you know, really tell me anything. "Joey" just made me believe in the power of the five-minute interview again.
It is raw, and not for everyone's air...but I gotta say, honesty makes such good radio. And "Joey" brought that out in his subject. Kudos.
Noah Miller
Posted on February 12, 2004 at 10:33 AM | Permalink
Review of Joey Interviews a Cutter
The interviewer, Joey, is just as much a character in the piece as the guy he's interviewing. That's what gives this piece its fly-on-the-wall realness. It would serve very well as part of a larger exploration of the topic.
Transom Editors
Posted on January 15, 2004 at 11:09 AM | Permalink
Review of Joey Interviews a Cutter
This intimate conversation between 2 young men provides some insight into the little discussed phenomenon of cutting. In an ideal world, you would hear that the cutter is receiving treatment that is helping him overcome it, but you don't, so it is uncomfortable listening; But nonetheless important listening.
Could be used with great effect, as an opener on a youth-focused call-in show, to introduce the subject matter, and prompt discussion.
Richard Paul
Posted on December 23, 2003 at 12:14 PM | Permalink
Review of Joey Interviews a Cutter
People expect to turn to public radio and hear what they won't hear anywhere else. THIS is a piece that you would not hear anywhere but on public radio -- a window into a life that we would never see otherwise. At first the raw nature of this put me off. I thought it was staged. But within minutes I realized it for what it was -- an incredibly valuable contribution to our understanding of others.