Comments on: Asking Tough Questions

By: Peterdehaas.com -Microsoft News. » What Is That One Question You Would Ask Bill Gates ?

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:36:33 +0000

[...] But, now, let’s say I set it up so that every year I’d do the same thing but I’d put little hints out there that you wouldn’t get to come to next year’s shindig if you made any trouble. Mike has a more straightforward response which comes straight from his bucket loads of experience [...]

By: Mathew Ingram

Mathew Ingram — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:23:13 +0000

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.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:11:13 +0000

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.

By: HEy

HEy — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:50:03 +0000

Hey, why’d you delete your last post?

By: pat

pat — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:23:30 +0000

LOL at Pat – I would think that 3 zunes at a MRP of $750 would qualify as material.

By: pat

pat — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:00:03 +0000

I’m concerned that I won’t get an interesting answer.

Or another Zune.

By: franticindustries

franticindustries — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:57:33 +0000

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.

By: Todd Cochrane

Todd Cochrane — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:54:42 +0000

For what it’s worth Michael I thought your question was good, along with the Linux question that another person asked.

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:07:13 +0000

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.

By: Conrad

Conrad — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:36:00 +0000

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