Introduction to Architectural Journalism and Interviewing Techniques
In this ideamooc, we will learn about what Architectural Journalism is and how it can be approached.
Welcome to the IDEAMOOC on Architectural Journalism and Interviewing Techniques. In this ideamooc, we will discuss what Architectural Journalism is and how it can be approached. In the second part of the mooc, we will also study the techniques of conducting effective interviews and composing a strong interview article.
What is architectural writing all about?
Anything and everything that is written about architecture comes under architectural writing. It could be articles on a certain project, descriptions of a project, design interpretations, the construction techniques, materials, environment, and so on. It could be brochures, blogs, website content, writing for social media, academic writing, research papers and any other type of writing that you could think of. These days architecture is also discussed on the electronic media, in the form of short films, lectures and webinars. So, as mentioned earlier, anything written about architecture comes under the umbrella of architectural journalism.
Architecture is an all-encompassing subject. After all, we live amidst built forms even though we do not think consciously about the built environment around us, at all times. We tend to take it for granted and do not recognise or appreciate the impact it has on all living beings as well as the environment unless someone makes an effort to point it out to us. Architecture is also rather exciting because it allows the concept of dualism, the rational and the intuitive, to co-exist effortlessly amongst us, giving tangible forms to the designs of a creative mind. And any writing which addresses this comes under architectural journalism.
Why architectural journalism?
This is an extremely pertinent question to ask. As said earlier, we live amongst the built environment and go about our daily life without really giving it much thought. So, unless we are told to look at a certain structure, we walk past it ignoring it completely. We may notice how beautiful or ugly it looks. But beyond that not much dialogue takes place around the built form. The built environment is possibly one of the most important things in our lives after food and clothing. And yet not much dialogue happens around it. It is allowed much space, neither in our living room chats and nor in the mainstream media. And whatever discussion happens is more often than not, confined to the design media. You will rarely find a well-written piece describing a structure in the daily newspapers or the news channels. In fact, you will rarely find any mention of a structure unless there is a sensational or controversial story unfolding around it.
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