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Why I don't do press interviews

Friday, December 04, 2009 by Dave Winer.

For the last couple of years I have had a policy of not doing press interviews. Until January, I occasionally made exceptions, but at that point I decided that it was a firm rule with just one exception (see below). 

Here's why.  

1. I didn't like the results. If I actually was quoted in the story it usually was impossible to tell what I believe. In fact it often appeared that I believed something that was incorrect.  

2. The only way it was good for me is that it made me more famous. But I don't really like being famous, and I sure wouldn't do anything to become more famous. Fame is way over-rated. 

3. The interviews can be difficult to schedule. First they'd reserve an hour next week, then as the day approached they'd change the time or day. This would happen two or three times, and then they wouldn't even show up. It takes a lot of time to do the scheduling, and each time I put something on my calendar it means I can't travel that day, and for what? 

4. The interview process itself sucks. At best it's adversarial. Always have to watch out you don't say something that can be soundbited and make you look like an idiot. We all get the Watergate treatment, as if we are hiding some major scandal. The ultimate was the WSJ reporter interviewing me about the gadgets used at the Pirillo wedding who thought I was pitching her products. I told her over and over that I didn't have a company or a paying job, I couldn't possibly be pitching. She kept asking the same questions over and over to see if I would answer them differently. Oy. I don't have time for this. 

Here's the offer I often make to reporters. Tell me what you're interested in, and if I have something to say I'll write a blog post about it. You can quote anything there, it's all on the record, for attribution. 

And there is one exception I will always make -- live radio interviews. They tend to be more like discussions, which I like. I can't be soundbited, and they don't move around on the schedule. You may accuse me of lying, or stealing your job, I'll deal with that.