Open or Closed Questions for Journalism Interviews

Is the following an open-ended or closed-ended question: What famous person would you want to meet?

• Open-ended question

• Closed-ended question

WHY is this question considered a closed-ended question: What famous person would you want to meet?

• The person being interviewed would give a long and in-depth answer to this question.

• The person being interviewed would give a one or two word answer to this question.

• This question closes off the interviewer and so the person being interviewed wants to not answer at all.

• The question doesn't make any sense so the answer won't make sense either.

Is the following an open-ended or closed-ended question: When someone does something that’s your pet peeve, what do you do?

• Open-ended Question

• Closed-ended Question

WHY is this question considered an open-ended question: When someone does something that’s your pet peeve, what do you do?

• The person being interviewed would give a long and in-depth answer to this question.

• The person being interviewed would give a one or two word answer to this question.

• This question closes off the interviewer and so the person being interviewed wants to not answer at all.

• The question doesn't make any sense so the answer won't make sense either.

Is the following an open-ended or closed-ended question: If you could have anything to eat for lunch, what would it be?

• Open-ended Question

• Closed-ended Question

WHY is this question considered a closed-ended question: If you could have anything to eat for lunch, what would it be?

• The person being interviewed would give a long and in-depth answer to this question.

• The person being interviewed would give a one or two word answer to this question.

• This question closes off the interviewer and so the person being interviewed wants to not answer at all.

• The question doesn't make any sense so the answer won't make sense either.

Is the following an open-ended or closed-ended question: Describe something that you are good at doing, and how you got good at it.

• Open-ended Question

• Closed-ended Question

WHY is this question considered an open-ended question: Describe something that you are good at doing, and how you got good at it.

• The person being interviewed would give a long and in-depth answer to this question.

• The person being interviewed would give a one or two word answer to this question.

• This question closes off the interviewer and so the person being interviewed wants to not answer at all.

• The question doesn't make any sense so the answer won't make sense either.

Is the following an open-ended or closed-ended question: What is your favorite TV show?

• Open-ended Question

• Closed-ended Question

What is a good follow-up question could you give to help make this an open-ended question: What is your favorite TV show?

• Who is an actor on the show?

• When is it on TV?

• Describe why is it your favorite TV show.

• Where does the show take place?