Regarding the blog discussion going around questioning why those of us who met with Bill Gates yesterday didn’t ask harder questions:
I can only speak for myself, but I wasn’t intimidated into being a softie as Scoble puts it (I certainly was the first time I met Bill, but not yesterday). I asked a question that I thought was both interesting and had a high likelihood of actually being answered. You can be a tough guy all day long, but asking Bill “With it’s worldwide dominance why does it take so long to get a new Operating System out of Redmond?” isn’t going to lead to an interesting answer.
I interview companies every day, and there is only so far you can go with the tough stuff. People just shut down or go into PR speak when you go to far.
I’m not concerned about not getting invited back by asking a tough question, I’m concerned that I won’t get an interesting answer.
In my experience, the “tough” questions are always the best ones. I’ve found that questions that don’t challenge the person you’re interviewing are tame and boring, and tend to be closer to “PR speak”. Note that there’s a difference between being a jerk and asking a tough question. What I think you’re referring to is reporters that think it’s ok to be a jerk to people. That’s not ok, but ask any self-respecting journo and they’ll tell you that they always aim to be tough when they ask queations.
Frankly, I’m almost certain that people would enjoy hearing Bill Gates’ insight into why one of the largest companies in the world can’t get a product out of the door. If he lapses into PR speak, you’re allowed to interrupt him!
The relationship goes both ways too: no self-respecting interviewee will refuse future interview opportunities if you ask them tough questions. If anything, they’ll be more eager to talk to you again because the questions will be lively and they get a platform to address difficult issues with their company or product!
For the record, I think your DRM question for Gates was a “tough” question. I certainly would have brought it up in a similar situation! You definitely got a good answer, and that aways reflects well on who asked the question.
I’d get rid of those three Zunes though… and not just because of the conflict of interest issues raised by accepting gifts from companies you report
On one hand, I agree that there’s sometimes no point in asking the tough questions if you’re pretty sure you won’t get an answer. But in many ways, this is the problem with the entire state of traditional journalism today – the lack of the follow-up question. From the President’s press conferences and down, journalists today seem unwilling to interupt the PRspeak and demand/ask/request a real answer. It’s one question journalism… i.e. ask a question, get an answer (no matter how good or bad) and then move on.
Michael (I think it’s Michael posting this entry, can’t tell, no name attached), I’ve heard you interview people on podcasts before and you don’t let up. You push and push to get a real answer that cuts through the PRspeak, so I don’t fully buy your argument that it’s not worth pushing for a real answer or asking questions they might not answer. (Besides, their unwillingness to answer is as much the “news” as a real answer)
As I have always seen it, this was much of the “point” of blogging journalism – to go where traditional media would not. Turns out, the more access bloggers have, the more they seem to fall into the trappings of traditional media. Quite the bummer.
For what it’s worth Michael I thought your question was good, along with the Linux question that another person asked.
I, for one, think that the question about the viability of DRM was spot-on; however, some of the other journalists did have some pretty boring questions. But the real problem are Bill’s answers, which are short and generalized. Basically, other than the “Buy a CD” thing, I can’t find any other particularly revealing thing he said in those 60 minutes.
@Jake: I also think that a blogger just sitting alone in his room writing his opinion can have a bigger impact than a whole media agency.
I’m concerned that I won’t get an interesting answer.
Or another Zune.
LOL at Pat – I would think that 3 zunes at a MRP of $750 would qualify as material.
Hey, why’d you delete your last post?
Good point mike. You know Bill is not going to answer any question that makes MS look bad. Getting the interesting answer is better than PR speak anyday. Even if the questions are softballs.
It’s definitely a balance, Mike — too many tough questions and the subject shuts down, too many softballs and you get nothing worthwhile. For what it’s worth I thought your question was a good one — it certainly got what I thought was an interesting response.