diff --git a/pkg/cmd/issue/list/list.go b/pkg/cmd/issue/list/list.go
index 670380830..ff3aba976 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/issue/list/list.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/issue/list/list.go
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ type ListOptions struct {
 	BaseRepo   func() (ghrepo.Interface, error)
 	Browser    browser
 
-	WebMode bool
-	Export  *cmdutil.ExportFormat
+	WebMode  bool
+	Exporter cmdutil.Exporter
 
 	Assignee     string
 	Labels       []string
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func NewCmdList(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*ListOptions) error) *cobra.Comman
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&opts.Mention, "mention", "", "Filter by mention")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&opts.Milestone, "milestone", "m", "", "Filter by milestone `number` or `title`")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&opts.Search, "search", "S", "", "Search issues with `query`")
-	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Export, api.IssueFields)
+	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Exporter, api.IssueFields)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ func listRun(opts *ListOptions) error {
 		return opts.Browser.Browse(openURL)
 	}
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		filterOptions.Fields = opts.Export.Fields
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		filterOptions.Fields = opts.Exporter.Fields()
 	}
 
 	listResult, err := issueList(httpClient, baseRepo, filterOptions, opts.LimitResults)
@@ -154,8 +154,9 @@ func listRun(opts *ListOptions) error {
 	}
 	defer opts.IO.StopPager()
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		return opts.Export.Write(opts.IO.Out, api.ExportIssues(listResult.Issues, opts.Export.Fields), opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		data := api.ExportIssues(listResult.Issues, opts.Exporter.Fields())
+		return opts.Exporter.Write(opts.IO.Out, data, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
 	}
 
 	if isTerminal {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/issue/status/status.go b/pkg/cmd/issue/status/status.go
index 60567c6f3..764ec52fa 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/issue/status/status.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/issue/status/status.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ type StatusOptions struct {
 	IO         *iostreams.IOStreams
 	BaseRepo   func() (ghrepo.Interface, error)
 
-	Export *cmdutil.ExportFormat
+	Exporter cmdutil.Exporter
 }
 
 func NewCmdStatus(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*StatusOptions) error) *cobra.Command {
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func NewCmdStatus(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*StatusOptions) error) *cobra.Co
 		},
 	}
 
-	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Export, api.IssueFields)
+	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Exporter, api.IssueFields)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 		Username: currentUser,
 		Fields:   defaultFields,
 	}
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		options.Fields = opts.Export.Fields
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		options.Fields = opts.Exporter.Fields()
 	}
 	issuePayload, err := api.IssueStatus(apiClient, baseRepo, options)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -94,13 +94,13 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 	}
 	defer opts.IO.StopPager()
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
 		data := map[string]interface{}{
-			"createdBy": api.ExportIssues(issuePayload.Authored.Issues, opts.Export.Fields),
-			"assigned":  api.ExportIssues(issuePayload.Assigned.Issues, opts.Export.Fields),
-			"mentioned": api.ExportIssues(issuePayload.Mentioned.Issues, opts.Export.Fields),
+			"createdBy": api.ExportIssues(issuePayload.Authored.Issues, opts.Exporter.Fields()),
+			"assigned":  api.ExportIssues(issuePayload.Assigned.Issues, opts.Exporter.Fields()),
+			"mentioned": api.ExportIssues(issuePayload.Mentioned.Issues, opts.Exporter.Fields()),
 		}
-		return opts.Export.Write(opts.IO.Out, &data, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
+		return opts.Exporter.Write(opts.IO.Out, &data, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
 	}
 
 	out := opts.IO.Out
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/issue/view/view.go b/pkg/cmd/issue/view/view.go
index 509787b87..03a9eb848 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/issue/view/view.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/issue/view/view.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type ViewOptions struct {
 	SelectorArg string
 	WebMode     bool
 	Comments    bool
-	Export      *cmdutil.ExportFormat
+	Exporter    cmdutil.Exporter
 
 	Now func() time.Time
 }
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func NewCmdView(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*ViewOptions) error) *cobra.Comman
 
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&opts.WebMode, "web", "w", false, "Open an issue in the browser")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&opts.Comments, "comments", "c", false, "View issue comments")
-	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Export, api.IssueFields)
+	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Exporter, api.IssueFields)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@ func viewRun(opts *ViewOptions) error {
 	}
 	defer opts.IO.StopPager()
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		exportIssue := issue.ExportData(opts.Export.Fields)
-		return opts.Export.Write(opts.IO.Out, exportIssue, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		exportIssue := issue.ExportData(opts.Exporter.Fields())
+		return opts.Exporter.Write(opts.IO.Out, exportIssue, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
 	}
 
 	if opts.IO.IsStdoutTTY() {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/list/list.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/list/list.go
index b15acc324..de58d5ad2 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/list/list.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/list/list.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type ListOptions struct {
 
 	WebMode      bool
 	LimitResults int
-	Export       *cmdutil.ExportFormat
+	Exporter     cmdutil.Exporter
 
 	State      string
 	BaseBranch string
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func NewCmdList(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*ListOptions) error) *cobra.Comman
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&opts.Author, "author", "A", "", "Filter by author")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&opts.Assignee, "assignee", "a", "", "Filter by assignee")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVarP(&opts.Search, "search", "S", "", "Search pull requests with `query`")
-	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Export, api.PullRequestFields)
+	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Exporter, api.PullRequestFields)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ func listRun(opts *ListOptions) error {
 		Search:     opts.Search,
 		Fields:     defaultFields,
 	}
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		filters.Fields = opts.Export.Fields
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		filters.Fields = opts.Exporter.Fields()
 	}
 
 	if opts.WebMode {
@@ -143,8 +143,9 @@ func listRun(opts *ListOptions) error {
 	}
 	defer opts.IO.StopPager()
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		return opts.Export.Write(opts.IO.Out, api.ExportPRs(listResult.PullRequests, opts.Export.Fields), opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		data := api.ExportPRs(listResult.PullRequests, opts.Exporter.Fields())
+		return opts.Exporter.Write(opts.IO.Out, data, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
 	}
 
 	if opts.IO.IsStdoutTTY() {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go
index 7bdd9c11b..115ee035b 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type StatusOptions struct {
 	Branch     func() (string, error)
 
 	HasRepoOverride bool
-	Export          *cmdutil.ExportFormat
+	Exporter        cmdutil.Exporter
 }
 
 func NewCmdStatus(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*StatusOptions) error) *cobra.Command {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func NewCmdStatus(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*StatusOptions) error) *cobra.Co
 		},
 	}
 
-	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Export, api.PullRequestFields)
+	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Exporter, api.PullRequestFields)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 		CurrentPR: currentPRNumber,
 		HeadRef:   currentPRHeadRef,
 	}
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		options.Fields = opts.Export.Fields
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		options.Fields = opts.Exporter.Fields()
 	}
 	prPayload, err := api.PullRequestStatus(apiClient, baseRepo, options)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -110,16 +110,16 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 	}
 	defer opts.IO.StopPager()
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
 		data := map[string]interface{}{
 			"currentBranch": nil,
-			"createdBy":     api.ExportPRs(prPayload.ViewerCreated.PullRequests, opts.Export.Fields),
-			"needsReview":   api.ExportPRs(prPayload.ReviewRequested.PullRequests, opts.Export.Fields),
+			"createdBy":     api.ExportPRs(prPayload.ViewerCreated.PullRequests, opts.Exporter.Fields()),
+			"needsReview":   api.ExportPRs(prPayload.ReviewRequested.PullRequests, opts.Exporter.Fields()),
 		}
 		if prPayload.CurrentPR != nil {
-			data["currentBranch"] = prPayload.CurrentPR.ExportData(opts.Export.Fields)
+			data["currentBranch"] = prPayload.CurrentPR.ExportData(opts.Exporter.Fields())
 		}
-		return opts.Export.Write(opts.IO.Out, &data, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
+		return opts.Exporter.Write(opts.IO.Out, &data, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
 	}
 
 	out := opts.IO.Out
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/view/view.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/view/view.go
index d4f897b83..19ebbe756 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/view/view.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/view/view.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ type ViewOptions struct {
 	Remotes    func() (context.Remotes, error)
 	Branch     func() (string, error)
 
-	Export *cmdutil.ExportFormat
+	Exporter cmdutil.Exporter
 
 	SelectorArg string
 	BrowserMode bool
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func NewCmdView(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*ViewOptions) error) *cobra.Comman
 
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&opts.BrowserMode, "web", "w", false, "Open a pull request in the browser")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&opts.Comments, "comments", "c", false, "View pull request comments")
-	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Export, api.PullRequestFields)
+	cmdutil.AddJSONFlags(cmd, &opts.Exporter, api.PullRequestFields)
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -116,9 +116,9 @@ func viewRun(opts *ViewOptions) error {
 	}
 	defer opts.IO.StopPager()
 
-	if opts.Export != nil {
-		exportPR := pr.ExportData(opts.Export.Fields)
-		return opts.Export.Write(opts.IO.Out, exportPR, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
+	if opts.Exporter != nil {
+		exportPR := pr.ExportData(opts.Exporter.Fields())
+		return opts.Exporter.Write(opts.IO.Out, exportPR, opts.IO.ColorEnabled())
 	}
 
 	if connectedToTerminal {
diff --git a/pkg/cmdutil/json_flags.go b/pkg/cmdutil/json_flags.go
index 0aaa64f55..30630fee1 100644
--- a/pkg/cmdutil/json_flags.go
+++ b/pkg/cmdutil/json_flags.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type JSONFlagError struct {
 	error
 }
 
-func AddJSONFlags(cmd *cobra.Command, exportTarget **ExportFormat, fields []string) {
+func AddJSONFlags(cmd *cobra.Command, exportTarget *Exporter, fields []string) {
 	f := cmd.Flags()
 	f.StringSlice("json", nil, "Output JSON with the specified `fields`")
 	f.StringP("jq", "q", "", "Filter JSON output using a jq `expression`")
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ func checkJSONFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) (*ExportFormat, error) {
 		}
 		jv := jsonFlag.Value.(pflag.SliceValue)
 		return &ExportFormat{
-			Fields:   jv.GetSlice(),
-			Filter:   jqFlag.Value.String(),
-			Template: tplFlag.Value.String(),
+			fields:   jv.GetSlice(),
+			filter:   jqFlag.Value.String(),
+			template: tplFlag.Value.String(),
 		}, nil
 	} else if jqFlag.Changed {
 		return nil, errors.New("cannot use `--jq` without specifying `--json`")
@@ -74,10 +74,19 @@ func checkJSONFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) (*ExportFormat, error) {
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
+type Exporter interface {
+	Fields() []string
+	Write(w io.Writer, data interface{}, colorEnabled bool) error
+}
+
 type ExportFormat struct {
-	Fields   []string
-	Filter   string
-	Template string
+	fields   []string
+	filter   string
+	template string
+}
+
+func (e *ExportFormat) Fields() []string {
+	return e.fields
 }
 
 func (e *ExportFormat) Write(w io.Writer, data interface{}, colorEnabled bool) error {
@@ -88,10 +97,10 @@ func (e *ExportFormat) Write(w io.Writer, data interface{}, colorEnabled bool) e
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if e.Filter != "" {
-		return export.FilterJSON(w, &buf, e.Filter)
-	} else if e.Template != "" {
-		return export.ExecuteTemplate(w, &buf, e.Template, colorEnabled)
+	if e.filter != "" {
+		return export.FilterJSON(w, &buf, e.filter)
+	} else if e.template != "" {
+		return export.ExecuteTemplate(w, &buf, e.template, colorEnabled)
 	} else if colorEnabled {
 		return jsoncolor.Write(w, &buf, "  ")
 	}