Aguilar’s interview was with a 70 year old man who killed two people within three weeks who had tried to break into his home, which is also his office. The story received over 300 comments, many by viewers who thought she was too aggressive and that she ambushed the man.

Tom Bier, station manager of WISC-TV in Madison, Wisc. said that before a story is printed or aired it is important to consider the approach of the reporter and the responses of the interviewee to deem if the story will cause viewers to take offense. He also explains that a story can be portrayed very differently on TV than in print and that Aguilar’s interview may not have gotten nearly as much attention had it been printed in a newspaper.

Wayne Lynch, news director of Northwest Cable News, said that he thinks "ambush" interviews should be reserved for public officials who have avoided a significant issue, and that ambushing citizens is a bigger deal and should be discussed with a newsroom manager to see if its the right decision.

Jim Ogle, general manager of WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kan., agreed about ambushing citizens saying, "If this 70-year-old man had been a spokesperson for a gun lobby, maybe you can find a scenario that would justify ambushing him in a parking lot and doing the whole cameras-rolling thing." Ogle says that it is important to get the story, but not when it jeopardizes a discussion about the story and the way viewers might perceive it. Ogle often asks himself "Would you show this to your grandma?" to determine if the story is appropriate.

Steve Ackermann, news director for WXIX-TV in Cincinnati, suggested that reporters should empower producers to be risk takers, but to take the right kinds of risks, not just putting out a controversial story that may be exclusive before the way it was reported is looked at.

Marci Burdick, senior vice president of Schurz Communications, Inc., gave a list of questions that could be discussed with editors before an interview to decide what is appropriate in an interview: "How important is the story, overall? Is there any other way to get the information I need? What information might I potentially obtain, and what does the public need to know or will they learn from my actions? What are the risks? Am I doing this to get important information, or am I motivated by 'good TV,' and can I defend my actions to my bosses, my viewers and the public at large?"

Burdick says that reporters should remember that they are not the story when trying to be aggressive, but not too offensive or obtrusive. "Reporters should talk less and listen more. Silence on a reporters' part often motivates an interview subject to talk more," Burdick said. "I'm not a Pollyanna. Reporters need to be obtrusive and aggressive in their reporting, but it shouldn't be their starting point."

Source: Poynter Online