Interviewing TechniquesJournalism

Interview preparation

• Do your homework: Learn all you can about the interviewee and the subject being discussed.

• Research news clippings and documents—court records, campaign records, and other info to familiarize yourself with the topic.

• Start with an interesting question.

Planning the Interview

• Identify your goals.

• Plan your questions.

• Request the interview.

• Dress appropriately.

Recording and Notes

• Establish rapport with source, then open notebook to take notes.

• If using a recorder, ask your source if that is okay. Smaller recorders are better—put into shirt pocket or where the source cannot see (after showing it to them).

Interviewing

• A notebook or especially a tape recorder may hinder or source, or it may not.

• As newspapers and magazines put more audio and video on their web sites, video tape or audio of the interview may be beneficial if possible.

Interviewing

• Close-ended questions: elicit brief, specific answers that are factual.

• Open-ended questions: elicit quotes, elaboration or longer responses.

• Keep the questions brief so as to not confuse the source.

• It’s okay to act dumb to get information you already know in the source’s words.

Interviewing

• Ask the who, what, where, when, why and how, and then ask the “so what” factor—who is impacted and how?

• Ask follow-up questions.

• Control the interview.

• Repeat questions.

• Ask background questions.

• Ask about developments.

Interviewing

• Construct a chronology (if relevant).

• Ask about pros and cons (if relevant).

• Ask for definitions.

• Verify.

• Use the silent treatment.

Interviewing

• Handle emotional questions with tact.

• Ask summary questions.

• End on a positive note.

Note-taking Tips

• Be prepared.

• Concentrate.

• Use key words.

• Develop a shorthand.

• Slow the pace.

• Request repetition.

• Make eye contact.

Note-taking Tips

• Mark your margins or notebook covers.

• Verify vital information.

• Double-check.

• Be (relatively) open-minded.

• Use a symbol system.

• Save your notes.

• Transcribe notes only for major stories.

Interviewing and the Law

• It’s illegal to record a conversation you are not a part of (two other people talking) without their knowledge.

• It may be illegal in your state to record a conversation you are having with someone else without them knowing.

Breaking the Ice

• Start with small talk to break the ice.

• Talk to them in a friendly tone.

• It’s okay to bring a list of questions, but new questions will form as you conduct the interview.

Go for the details

• “Questions unimportant to police add the color and detail that make a story human” –Edna Buchanan

• Ask as many questions, even if they only seem remotely relevant to the story.

Interviewing

• If sources are reluctant to answer a question, rephrase the question and ask again.

• Avoid patronizing the source.

• Don’t ask too many leading questions.

Interviewing

• Use the “blame others” technique

• “Some people would say…”

• “How would you respond…”

Access

• Public individuals are often obliged to speak to the media; private individuals are not.

Interviewing

• Don’t let media-savvy sources spin your story.

Interviewing & Listening

• Be a good listener and ask as many relevant questions possible.

• Concentrate on the “hear” and now.

• Practice conversational listening.

• Practice critical listening.

• Be quiet

• Be responsive

Interviewing & Listening

• Listen for what isn’t said.

• Listen with your eyes.

• Be polite.

• Block out personal intrusions.

• Develop listening curiosity.

Interviewing & Listening

Interviews: In-Person, Phone or E-mail

• If an in-person interview is not possible, a phone interview is preferred.

• As a last resort, an e-mail interview is available.

• Advantages: don’t have to take notes, accurate quotes.

• Disadvantages: prohibit spontaneity and good follow-up questions.

E-mail interviews

• Limit the number of questions.

• Clarify your purpose.

• Verify full name and title

• Limit follow-up e-mails

• Attribute to e-mail

Phone interviews

• Identify yourself

• Icebreakers

• Length of questions

• Clarification and Verification

• Specifics

• Chronology

In-Class Exercise

• Exercise: Interview the person next to you.• Ask them where they are from, what they

want to do once they graduate.• Ask them about possible news stories

ideas or interests. Ask who they would be interviewing for these topics. Ask what their focus would be. About half-page in length.