Prepping for the follow-up question

In all of the media training sessions we conduct, the segment that clients learn the most from is the mock interview.  This is where their messages and stories are tested.  We simulate real interviews, giving them a much tougher grilling than they likely will face with the real journalists.  The goal is to make sure their story is concise, compelling and bulletproof.  In other words, we need to make sure that when they get beyond their core messages, they can answer the follow-up question.

Knowing this, it's been fascinating to see the advice Charlie Gibson is getting in the blogosphere today regarding asking the right follow-up questions of VP candidate Sarah Palin tonight.  It's the flip side of what we do when we prep our clients for their interviews. 

Slate listed their suggested 10 questions for Gibson to ask.  Note their focus:

Because the first instincts of a politician are to evade a tough question by dismissing it, filibustering, or answering a question that wasn't asked, Gibson's toughest job will be formulating the follow-up question to block her retreat.

Maureen Dowd had another take on it in the NY Times.  Different pub, but same focus:

Gibson has his work cut out for him. His problem isn’t coming up with a list of questions, but finding time to drill deeply enough into all the unknown territory of her life.

Like many in the nation, I'll be watching the outcome of his prep and her prep very carefully.  The difference is, I'll have my media training hat on to see which side was most ready for the follow-up questions.