The Walter Cronkite School kicked off the spring 2013 semester installment of its Must See Mondays series with local news anchor John Hook of Fox 10 News, who spoke about interviewing President Barack Obama in November 2011.
Hook has spent half of his life reporting on Arizona news. However, he told Cronkite School students on Monday evening that the moments prior to interviewing Obama rendered him nervous and scared.
Before interviewing Obama, Hook had interviewed several presidents after their terms ended — including George W. Bush on three occasions — but never a sitting president. It was a goal of Hook and the entire team at Fox 10 to interview a sitting president.
Their chance came in October 2011 when Arizona was deemed a battleground state for the 2012 presidential election. The White House selected Hook and eight other journalists from battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida, to participate in “a day with the president,” or, as Hook said, a “charm offensive.”
“When the White House is involved, it has to be something that benefits them,” Hook said.
Hook and his Fox 10 team traveled to Washington D.C. on Halloween night. By 10 a.m. the next day, they had met the famous first dog, Bo. By 12:15 p.m., Hook’s career had changed forever.
In the days before the interview, Hook performed extensive research and carefully selected interview questions that pertained to the state of Arizona. He said preparation was crucial.
Having been told the interview would be conducted sitting down, Hook prepared his questions on his iPad. Minutes before the interview, he was informed by a White House staffer that he would actually be standing for the interview.
Hook transferred the first question from his iPad into his notebook but did not even need it in the end.
“I should have ditched the notepad,” Hook says. “Once I got in there, everything simmered down.”
Hook used Obama’s infamous tiff with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer as an icebreaker in his interview with the president. Brewer’s book, “Scorpions for Breakfast,” was released the same day as Hook’s interview with Obama. In jest, Hook gave Obama a copy of Brewer’s book, inscribed by Brewer with “’Breakfast’ is on me.”
Hook’s first question for the president dealt with Arizona’s home foreclosure crisis. He also questioned the president about illegal immigration and medical marijuana.
Hook’s frequent mention of the importance of preparation struck a chord with Cronkite School students.
“I think the most important thing was how he prepared his questions with a lot of research,” journalism sophomore Stephanie Habib said.
Journalism junior Brett Nachman echoed Habib’s thoughts.
“I really appreciated his emphasis on background,” Nachman said.
Contact the reporter at Ashley.McCulley@asu.edu
