Just a quick note this afternoon to say I’m getting into the candidate-interviewing business.
The video in this post tells the story. I’ve got a downtown Ottawa office, it’s got a table with some ostentatious boom microphones, and I’ve got some video cameras. What more does a guy need, really, to interview some federal Liberal leadership candidates?
Possible answers to my question include:
(1) Candidates. So far it’s not going great. Dominic LeBlanc announced today that he won’t run for the leadership. This isn’t entirely surprising: the short timelines Justin Trudeau left when he announced his resignation mean that the frying pan of the leadership campaign will quickly give way to the fire of a federal election campaign, followed perhaps by results that resemble the last two years’ worth of polls. We’ll see how many people decide to seek the leadership all the same.
(2) Technical help. You’re right. I shot the video above in a few minutes, as soon as I decided to give this interview project a try. Before any candidates actually show up, I’ll get a professional videographer to work on the desk, the lighting, the video angles, and probably some way to deploy the mic booms that leaves them looking less like I’ve sprouted robot arms.
But I’m serious about the offer. The candidates will be running for a tough job in an atmosphere of crisis. That makes them journalistically interesting. As a bonus, any capabilities I develop now will remain available during the federal election campaign that’s sure to follow. As subscribers, you’ll benefit.
What’s in it for the candidates? Direct access to 31,000 highly-engaged subscribers, who read, watch, and discuss everything I send them. Plus whoever else watches the interviews on Youtube. Honestly there aren’t many higher-value audiences in Canadian journalism, which is why several cabinet ministers and the occasional provincial premier and big-city mayor have accepted invitations to appear on my podcast.
Note to leadership candidates: This post is your invitation. Don’t sit around waiting for something engraved. I’ll interview every candidate who’s interested, for about an hour. I won’t discuss questions in advance with anyone under any circumstances. I promise you the job you’re running for will be harder than the interview. Much harder. Right out of the gate. I mean, you would not believe how hard the job is going to be.
Some subscribers won’t be thrilled to get so much Liberal content. My advice: If that’s you, don’t watch the videos. My standing invitation to the Conservative leader for an interview any time remains open.
This will be fun and useful.
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