After interviewing Nelson Mandela days after his release from prison, Saddam Hussein, entering the secret world of the Mafia and reporting from war zones, you’d think nothing would shock Sir Trevor McDonald.
And yet, upon returning to Indiana State Prison’s death row for this documentary, that was far from the case.
“I did leave there desperately needing a drink”, he candidly admitted after leaving the death row.
McDonald is best known for his career as a news presenter with ITN and was knighted in 1999 for his services to journalism, so it’s not like that I didn’t know he was a great journalist, it’s more that I never really had the time to actually sit back and watch him for two hours straight.
Long story short: the way Mr. McDonald is conducting these interviews should be studied in journalism schools. Period.
He asks all the right questions. He knows exactly when to let the other person speak. He lets the audience draw the conclusions. Last but not least, he asks hard questions with elegance and with great respect, and this is how you spot not only a fine interviewer, but also a fine human being.
Give this documentary a watch, I promise you won’t regret it.
