News Reporting & Writing Interviewing: A survivors guide
Gerry Doyle Slide 2 The Interview A controlled encounter with a
news source for the purpose of gathering information. The
interviewer wants to direct the encounter and keep it on track. The
interviewer is searching for facts, details, opinions, insights,
reactions and quotations. Slide 3 The Interview Fact No. 1: It is
not always easy to call or talk to a complete stranger about a
topic you know nothing about. Fact No. 2: You cannot die from
embarrassment. Slide 4 The Interview The most common fear in the
working world whether you're the CEO or the intern is this: The
fear of being found out. If you are afraid of making a fool of
yourself, dont worry you DEFINITELY will make a fool of yourself at
some point (so dont worry about it!) Slide 5 The Interview Your job
is not to be the expertyour job is to BECOME the expert or at least
enough of an expert to explain a subject to someone. Slide 6 The
Interview There is no such thing as a stupid question Pick up the
phone! Dont hide behind e-mail Dont deny yourself the central thing
that makes this profession a joy meeting and learning about an
astonishing variety of people. Slide 7 The Interview: Fighting Fear
Follow your fears play the opposite game Prioritize, dont avoid,
what makes you nervous Nerves tell you what you SHOULD be doing Its
the sign of an instinct that tells you how you should be
prioritizing your work Procrastination the bane of writers - is not
laziness, its avoidance Slide 8 The Interview: Curiosity Unleash
your curiosity find your inner 5-year- old. (Why? Why? Why?)
Genuine interest in your subject and interviewees gains trust,
scores better stories and you have more fun. (Read On Writing Well
by William Zinsser). It also inflames the passion that leads to
persistence, another hallmark of great reporters. Slide 9 The
Interview Things that wont change like the demand for speed and
accuracy in our writing are these truisms of reporting: You will
get better information in person than on the phone. Why? You will
get better information on the phone than e-mail. Why? Slide 10 The
Interview: E-mail Its tempting to use e-mail: plenty of time to
organize, no nerves, no conflict. One major limitation: There is no
such thing as interview by e-mail! Slide 11 Problems with e-mail
Unsure when they will respond What if they cant write? How do you
know your subject wrote it? Answers beget more questions What takes
10 minutes of back and forth in person or on the phone can take
DAYS Slide 12 Problems with e-mail And lets be honest: it is lazy
you are hiding behind e-mail rather than picking up the phone. Its
no fun and the odds of finding better sources, additional
information that will lead to future stories are low. Slide 13
Great uses of e-mail Finding and arranging for interview Tell who
you are, why you want to speak with them, how much time it will
take, your deadline and three or so general questions you have
Fact-checking before publication Quick comments for breaking news
stories (still better to talk to a living person) Slide 14 Great
uses of e-mail Getting documents Confirming a simple yes or no
question And one side benefit: a time-stamped record of a response
Slide 15 Types of interviews The formal meeting. This is when you
have time to set up a meeting with someone you need for a story, or
who can help you get smarter on a subject. The spontaneous. These
usually occur around a specific event -- a fire, accident or
verdict. Slide 16 Types of interviews The informal meeting. This is
when you have a chance to tag along with a source while they are
doing something else, or visit them at their workplace or home. The
Backgrounder. These are used when you want to get smarter on a
subject that you may write about. (Important in beat reportingyou
get to know your sources and topics.) Slide 17 Interviews: Issues
Regardless of the type: Remember: There is no such thing as a
stupid questiononly the one you forgot to ask. Go to the interview
with a mental or physical list of questions you need answers to.
Arrange the questions by subject, and work from the least difficult
to most difficult. Get source to give long answers by asking open-
ended questions. Slide 18 Interviews: Questions Why we drill Who,
What, When, Where, How and Why: This is the DNA of all questions,
from hard news stories on a traffic accident to long investigative
features. Slide 19 Interviews: Questions Closed-ended questions: To
clarify, verify and authenticate, ask closed-ended questions. They
are sometimes the only ones you have time for on fast-breaking
stories. Did you warn the students they would be arrested? How many
students did you arrest? What crimes will they be charged with?
Slide 20 Interviews: Questions Open-ended questions: To draw people
out, to get amplification and explanation, ask open-ended
questions: Whats it like being chief executive? What did you like
about your U.S. trip? What factors will determine when you will
support direct elections in Hong Kong? In almost any scenario: How
does it feel? Slide 21 Interviews: Should I Tape? PROS Fact No. 3:
There are two kinds of reporters those who HAVE lost their
notebook, and those who WILL. Taping: Guarantees quotes are
accurate reduces possibility of accusations of misquoting Will help
you evaluate your own interviewing technique Slide 22 Interviews:
Should I Tape? CONS Fact No. 4: There are two kinds of reporters
those who HAVE lost their recordings, and those who WILL. Taping:
Will double the time (or more) to write the piece Often stops you
from listening actively in the interview Can make interviewees
uncomfortable, less likely to give you good information Slide 23 My
advice: Tape Do it, especially early in your career (with the
permission of your interviewee). The more contentious the subject
matter, the more important an accurate record isthis protects you.
But take notes AS IF YOU DONT have a recorder. If possible, glance
at the time and note (timestamp) key parts youll want to review
later. Slide 24 Interviews: Preparation Background research Draft
questions Questions you think your reader would want to know the
answer to Listen to Terry Gross at Fresh air
http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/ Listen how well she
backgrounds herself to form her questions Slide 25 Interview
strategy Most people love to talk about themselves or things they
care about (hobbies, politics, their children) Use these topics to
open up interviews Many people mistrust or are afraid of reporters
Soldiers (public officials, C-level execs) vs. civilians (people
who arent used to dealing with the media) Slide 26 Interview
strategy Be sincere, professional, nonjudgmental. You will stand a
better chance of getting what you need for your story. This can be
difficult you will meet people you disagree with, dislike or who
just plain scare you Try to fairly understand their point of view
Learn how to shut up and listen silence needs to be filled (let
them fill it). No one likes silence in a conversation! Slide 27
Interview strategy Listen to what tone of voice, or body language
tells you Notice when someone has strong emotional feelings on a
topic ask them about it Attitudes/Opinions of interviewees are
usually built on specific incidents/examples from their life Watch
for cues the interviewee is uncomfortable If staring at your
notebook, quit taking notes (you must remember to LISTEN, not just
scribble) Slide 28 Interview strategy Contradictions, hesitation,
silence, nervousness, roving eyes all suggest need for follow-up
Look around you! And note it down. If interviewee doesnt want to
answer a question, ask why and explain why you (and your readers)
think its an important question Slide 29 Interview strategy Save
difficult, controversial questions for later in the interview ASK
THE NEXT QUESTION dont shy away Ask to explain responses you dont
understand Repeat ad nauseam: Can you give me an example of that?
Teases out general statements into specific examples, good detail
Excellent lie detector Slide 30 Interview strategy If they give you
dates, numbers, or other quantifiable information, ask for the
source Ask about other stories, topics that they think you should
pursue Many great stories are spawned from sources from on other
stories At the end, let them know you will have additional facts to
check or a follow-up chat be sure to ask about their schedule Until
an article is published, I own my sources Slide 31 Interview:
Following up By the time I leave, I have a lead for the story in
mind and key quotes I know Im going to use Go through notes and
clarify immediately, type out key points, listen to quotes Put
notebook in a safe, usual place. Make sure recording is backed up
on computer or other location. Dont lose both your notebook and
your recorder! Slide 32 Menschers 12 Ground Rules Identify yourself
at the beginning State the purpose of the interview Make sure the
source knows how the information will be used Tell the source how
long the interview will take Keep it as short as possible Ask
specific questions that the source is competent to answer Slide 33
Menchers 12 Ground Rules Give the source time to reply Ask the
source to clarify complex or vague answers Read back answers if
requested or when in doubt of the phrasing Insist on answers if the
public has a right to know them Avoid lecturing and arguing Abide
by non-attribution requests Slide 34 Drawing People Out Some words
to draw people out: Please tell me why. Please tell me about Please
tell me how. Please tell me the reasons. Please tell me the
consequences of Slide 35 Magic Phrases I wonder if you can help me.
Im doing a story on Can you give me an example of that? Is there
anything we havent discussed that might be important for me to
know? Who else should I talk to? (Play leap frog hop from one
source to the next) You wont be surprised by anything that appears
in the article make sure you back that statement up Slide 36 Happy
reading week! Heres your homework. Read these: English- language
News Writing, Pages 222-223; and a selection from Melvin Mencher (I
will e-mail a.pdf and post it online) And if you have time, watch
this: All the Presidents Men, starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert
Redford. (if this doesnt get you excited about journalism, nothing
will!)
