How I Would Interview Tiger Woods February 20, 2010

So today Tiger Woods held the first press conference to address the affairs which fractured his marriage. His public statement can even be found front and centre on the official Tiger Woods website. There were only a handful of people present at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and even a more scrupulously chosen representation from the media.

My dad was watching the Special Report on Sports Net that showed the public statement. I didn’t know this, but apparently Tiger Woods made every effort to hide from the media for three months. I asked my dad what he thought, and he said that he would also have hid from the public eye. Keep the private life private. Protect the family. My dad also felt that Tiger Woods’ statement was sincere.

When it comes to celebrity lives, I’m not very concerned with keeping watch, so I don’t know how much we can read into one statement made in one evening by this legendary golfer. But I do agree with my dad that Tiger Woods appeared quite penitant – and to that end I think it’s right and courageous of him to come out of hiding and clear things up. I’m thinking about high-profile people like Bill Clinton who also made a public apology for his behaviour. Not only does it help to heal their professional profiles, but there is something good about trying to clear one’s conscience and step into accountability.

As an aspiring journalist, I wonder how I would have approached this current event. In one way, I am not really interested in scouring the news to find commentary on his apology because I don’t like to pry and even less so when the subject matter is sensitive.  So I empathize with his penitant effort – but how would an empathetic journalist interview well? As someone who values time alone thinking things through, I’d consider what he’s included in his statement:

As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I’m concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.

If I had to do my job and interview Tiger Woods, I’d ask how he plans to manage media attention in light of his clear intention to work through “these questions and answers” in the privacy between a husband and wife. Will he go back into hiding? How will his absence affect his public profile, especially when he intends to return to professional golf later on?

I think there’s a misunderstanding about journalists that we really want to dig out all this dirt about people. But two great interviewers and journalists who taught my class in Ryerson were also very empathetic people who looked into who they were interviewing, rather than looked for the story they could draw out. Journalists are known to be story tellers, but what’s important for me to remember is that the people involved are created in God’s image. So if story telling is more like gossiping and splashing the hearts and guts of the one interviewed, then I think that says something about the integrity of the journalist.

I’m just thinking aloud here. And I think the funny thing about our jobs – be it golfer or politician or journalist – is that integrity is not exempt from those professional areas. That just might be a circular way to talk about integrity itself, but when the rubber hits the road, it’s time to practise what you preach.

Can’t stop talking about Ruth Reichl October 28, 2009

When Condé Nast shut the doors of Gourmet magazine this month, it was probably one of the saddest goodbyes in the North American culinary world. What confounds me is why S.I. Newhouse would bring America’s first food magazine of continued repute to an end, when they’ve got subscriptions on par with The New Yorker. Sounds so arbitrary. I’m still so mad.

I only started reading Gourmet this year, and also recently have been within Ruth Reichl’s book pages. While the most recent book she has out is a memoir about her mother after finding her notes and belongings, “Comfort Me With Apples” is about Ruth’s beginnings as a food writer. She seems like a really down-to-earth person, the kind of big-name foodie that doesn’t let resto glam get in the way of preparing a thoughtful meal at home. I think it’s pretty interesting to read about a writer’s life — much like the Q&A column that has been running in the Toronto Star featuring authors at the IFOA, it fascinates me to walk through the mind field of literary giants who’ve made it.

Speaking of which, the Globe and Mail will be holding a first extensive Canadian interview with Ms. Reichl since Gourmet magazine folded this month in Friday’s October 30 Globe Life section. I’ll be leaning in like I’m sitting elbows up at the kitchen island table.

Ask the billionaire on the bike October 5, 2009

Jim Rogers, a renowned investor and authority on investment in China, takes questions from Globe and  Mail readers until Tuesday Oct 6.

But perhaps one of the more outstanding bullets on his CV is that he took a world trip across six continents over three odd years with a blonde admirer to get from Reykjavik, Iceland to his father’s grave in Alabama. December 1998 to December 2001. One yellow Mercedes (custom-made to get the retractable roof that will simulate a wind-blown convertible cool.)

Read the Q&A in the Globe and Mail Wednesday morning, October 7. Though the call for questions have been fenced around China-specific investment, I’m wondering how much of his adventurous nature plays into his daytime suit.

If I were stuck in an elevator with you August 27, 2009

I’d ask you these 5 questions ..

What’s the hardest thing about marriage?

If you could change one thing in your first year of marriage, what would it be? How would you change it?

How do you deal with PMS?

What’s the best way to improve communication?

How do you tithe when you don’t have steady income?

What modern technological invention would you deep-six for the good of society?

Okay, so that’s six. But the last one I took from Time Traveller’s Wife. I think I’d ask that if they told us that the fire truck was impossibly delayed.

Barbara Walters March 19, 2009

I didn’t know that Barbara Walters made Patrick Swayze cry.

Barbara, I still hang on to your words.

Still, here’s Barbara Walter’s interview with Patrick Swayze–the first one televised since his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.