The Art of Interviewing Preparing for the Interview

The Art of The Art of InterviewingInterviewing

Preparing for the InterviewPreparing for the Interview

The Role and Purpose of The Role and Purpose of the Journalistic Interviewthe Journalistic Interview

To preview an event before it To preview an event before it happens.happens.

To report an event as it is To report an event as it is happening.happening.

To analyze an event once it has To analyze an event once it has happened.happened.

The Role and Purpose of The Role and Purpose of the Journalistic Interviewthe Journalistic Interview

Interviews contribute to the Interviews contribute to the understanding of the listeners and understanding of the listeners and help them in reaching to a help them in reaching to a conclusion.conclusion.

A good interviewer always try to ask A good interviewer always try to ask the questions which the listeners the questions which the listeners may like to ask the interviewee if may like to ask the interviewee if they were face-to-face with him or they were face-to-face with him or her.her.

What Makes an Interview What Makes an Interview Memorable?Memorable?

An unexpected revelation by the An unexpected revelation by the interviewee.interviewee.

A revealing insight into a situation A revealing insight into a situation or personality.or personality.

The provision of new information. The provision of new information.

Why Do People Agree to be Why Do People Agree to be Interviewed?Interviewed?

To promote themselves or the organization, To promote themselves or the organization, institution or business they represent.institution or business they represent.

Because it is part of their job as Because it is part of their job as spokesperson or press officer.spokesperson or press officer.

They need to set the record straight and They need to set the record straight and end speculation.end speculation.

They want to balance the coverage by They want to balance the coverage by accentuating the positive in what appears accentuating the positive in what appears to be a negative and damaging story.to be a negative and damaging story.

They feel the cathartic need to talk to They feel the cathartic need to talk to someone. someone.

Why Do People Decline to Why Do People Decline to be Interviewed?be Interviewed?

They believe that you intend to catch They believe that you intend to catch them or humiliate them.them or humiliate them.

They are afraid their views may be They are afraid their views may be misrepresented.misrepresented.

They think you will change the meaning They think you will change the meaning of what they say by editing the interview.of what they say by editing the interview.

They are too upset about what has They are too upset about what has happened and may also resent your happened and may also resent your presence.presence.

Types of InterviewTypes of Interview

BBC trainees, when they join the BBC trainees, when they join the organization first, are told by their organization first, are told by their trainers that there are three broad trainers that there are three broad categories of interviews:categories of interviews:

The hard exposure interview that The hard exposure interview that investigates a subject.investigates a subject.

The informational interview which puts The informational interview which puts the audience in the picture.the audience in the picture.

The emotional interview which reveal The emotional interview which reveal an interviewee’s state of mind. an interviewee’s state of mind.


Those three basic types of interview Those three basic types of interview may be further developed into the may be further developed into the following twelve types of interview:following twelve types of interview:

Hard news.Hard news. Information.Information. Investigation.Investigation. Adversarial.Adversarial. Interpretative.Interpretative.


Vox pop and multiple.Vox pop and multiple. Personal.Personal. Emotional.Emotional. Entertainment.Entertainment. Actuality only.Actuality only. Telephone or remote.Telephone or remote. Grabbed.Grabbed.

Hard News InterviewHard News Interview

The hard news interview is usually The hard news interview is usually short, to the point, and to illustrate a short, to the point, and to illustrate a bulletin or news item.bulletin or news item.

It deals only with important facts, or It deals only with important facts, or comment and reaction to those facts.comment and reaction to those facts.

In short most of the time this type of In short most of the time this type of interview answers the five ‘Ws’ and interview answers the five ‘Ws’ and on ‘H’. on ‘H’.

Informational InterviewInformational Interview

Informational interviews are generally Informational interviews are generally used by the journalists while covering used by the journalists while covering major stories.major stories.

Such interviews mainly provide the Such interviews mainly provide the background to the story.background to the story.

The can be about events too-something The can be about events too-something that is happening or about to happen.that is happening or about to happen.

In short the informational interviews go In short the informational interviews go beyond the main point to explain the beyond the main point to explain the facts: the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the story.facts: the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the story.

Investigative InterviewInvestigative Interview

This kind of interview aims to get This kind of interview aims to get behind the facts to discover what behind the facts to discover what really caused events and what could really caused events and what could be done to prevent a recurrence of be done to prevent a recurrence of such events.such events.

Such interviews are generally quite Such interviews are generally quite long and usually form the basis of a long and usually form the basis of a documentary.documentary.

Adversarial Interview Adversarial Interview Adversarial interviews are generally Adversarial interviews are generally

done in case of controversies involving done in case of controversies involving politicians and bureaucrats.politicians and bureaucrats.

The main aim of such interviews is to get The main aim of such interviews is to get to the bottom of the matter by cross-to the bottom of the matter by cross-examining the subject and questioning examining the subject and questioning his/her motives.his/her motives.

In such interviews the interviewer acts In such interviews the interviewer acts as the representative audience and try to as the representative audience and try to ask questions which the audience might ask questions which the audience might like to ask. like to ask.

Adversarial InterviewAdversarial Interview

But in all such interviews the But in all such interviews the interviewer runs the risk of a head-interviewer runs the risk of a head-on clash with the interviewee.on clash with the interviewee.

Any such clash between the Any such clash between the interviewer and interviewee may interviewer and interviewee may lead to the allegations of bias and lead to the allegations of bias and may shift public sympathy away may shift public sympathy away from the reporter and towards the from the reporter and towards the ‘victim’.‘victim’.

Interpretative InterviewInterpretative Interview Interpretative interviews are generally Interpretative interviews are generally

done either to obtain reaction to a story or done either to obtain reaction to a story or seek an explanation of the events.seek an explanation of the events.

Reaction is stronger and more effective Reaction is stronger and more effective when it comes from someone who is when it comes from someone who is directly involved in the incident.directly involved in the incident.

While analysis, explanation or While analysis, explanation or interpretation is done best by an expert far interpretation is done best by an expert far enough away from the story to remain enough away from the story to remain objective.objective.

The main aim of such interviews is to put The main aim of such interviews is to put an event into context by providing an event into context by providing perspective on what has taken place.perspective on what has taken place.

Personal InterviewPersonal Interview Such interviews are aimed at revealing the Such interviews are aimed at revealing the

personality of famous people and celebrities.personality of famous people and celebrities. They require the interviewer to combine the They require the interviewer to combine the

insight of a psychiatrist with the empathy of a insight of a psychiatrist with the empathy of a priest at the confessional.priest at the confessional.

The interviewer attempts to get beneath the The interviewer attempts to get beneath the skins of the interviewees to find out, not what skins of the interviewees to find out, not what they do, but why do it, what drives and they do, but why do it, what drives and motivates them and what in their past has made motivates them and what in their past has made them the people they are today?them the people they are today?

If done properly and with the right kind of If done properly and with the right kind of person they can make fascinating simply person they can make fascinating simply because people want to know about the lives of because people want to know about the lives of people they like.people they like.

Emotional InterviewEmotional Interview The emotional interview is an extension of The emotional interview is an extension of

personal interview, and is perhaps the most personal interview, and is perhaps the most delicate and sensitive area of reporting.delicate and sensitive area of reporting.

It basically deals with the inner self, an area It basically deals with the inner self, an area into which media too frequently trespasses into which media too frequently trespasses uninvited.uninvited.

The main of such interview is to lay bare The main of such interview is to lay bare someone’s feelings, to enable an audience to someone’s feelings, to enable an audience to share in a personal tragedy or moving event.share in a personal tragedy or moving event.

The interviewer should know that the The interviewer should know that the hackneyed question of ‘How do you feel?’ hackneyed question of ‘How do you feel?’ should only be asked to let the audience share should only be asked to let the audience share someone’s moment of relief and happiness, someone’s moment of relief and happiness, never their tragedy or misfortune never their tragedy or misfortune

Grabbed InterviewGrabbed Interview Grabbed interviews are the ones which Grabbed interviews are the ones which

people do not want to give but which people do not want to give but which reporters are determined to take.reporters are determined to take.

Such interviews are obtained by pushing Such interviews are obtained by pushing a camera or a microphone under the a camera or a microphone under the nose of a subject and firing off nose of a subject and firing off questions.questions.

These are usually short and may These are usually short and may comprise only one or two brief comprise only one or two brief comments or a terse ‘No comment’, comments or a terse ‘No comment’, which is often comment enough. which is often comment enough.

Grabbed InterviewGrabbed Interview

Grabbed interviews usually work best on Grabbed interviews usually work best on camera, where, even if the subject says camera, where, even if the subject says nothing, he can be watched by the nothing, he can be watched by the audience and his reactions noted.audience and his reactions noted.

But such interviews are often intrusions of But such interviews are often intrusions of privacy.privacy.

Ethically, personal privacy should only be Ethically, personal privacy should only be intruded upon where someone’s intruded upon where someone’s understandable desire to be left alone understandable desire to be left alone runs counter to proper public interest. runs counter to proper public interest.

Where and How the Where and How the Interviews Are Used?Interviews Are Used?

Vox pop and multiples.Vox pop and multiples. Actuality or sound byte.Actuality or sound byte. News interview.News interview. Two-way.Two-way. Taster.Taster. Wrap.Wrap. Package.Package. Feature.Feature.

Where and How the Where and How the Interviews Are Used?Interviews Are Used?

Montage.Montage. Phone-ins.Phone-ins. Sequence/magazine programme.Sequence/magazine programme. Documentaries.Documentaries.

Vox Pop and MultiplesVox Pop and Multiples Vox pop is an abbreviation of Latin vox Vox pop is an abbreviation of Latin vox

populi, or the ‘voice of the people’. In populi, or the ‘voice of the people’. In the US it is known as ‘person in the the US it is known as ‘person in the street interview’. street interview’.

The vox is used in broadcasting to The vox is used in broadcasting to provide a cross-section of public opinion provide a cross-section of public opinion on a given subject.on a given subject.

Alternate between young and old, male Alternate between young and old, male and female. Begin and end with strong and female. Begin and end with strong comments and make good use of comments and make good use of humorous remarks. humorous remarks.

Actuality OnlyActuality Only

Actuality is generally termed as sound Actuality is generally termed as sound byte in television.byte in television.

This is where the reporter’s voice is This is where the reporter’s voice is removed from the interview, leaving only removed from the interview, leaving only the interviewee.the interviewee.

The technique is commonly used in The technique is commonly used in documentaries and features.documentaries and features.

A good actuality is which has a clear A good actuality is which has a clear storyline and needs no narration to prop storyline and needs no narration to prop it up.it up.

News InterviewNews Interview

News interviews may be live or News interviews may be live or recorded lasting 2-5 minutes as part recorded lasting 2-5 minutes as part of a longer programme.of a longer programme.

What do you understand by ‘two-What do you understand by ‘two-ways’?ways’?

Phone-insPhone-ins

A phone-in will feature interviews A phone-in will feature interviews with listeners and expert with listeners and expert contributors if it is topical or contributors if it is topical or discussion based.discussion based.

What do you understand by What do you understand by sequence/magazine programme? sequence/magazine programme?

QuestionsQuestions

Every reporter or presenter should have Every reporter or presenter should have a clear idea of what to ask while a clear idea of what to ask while interviewing someoneinterviewing someone

The type and number of questions The type and number of questions depends on the type of interview involved depends on the type of interview involved and its duration.and its duration.

If you need a 30 seconds clip there is no If you need a 30 seconds clip there is no point in recording an interview of 30 point in recording an interview of 30 minutes duration.minutes duration.

ResearchResearch

Get your facts right before you Get your facts right before you interview someone.interview someone.

Don’t undermine your own and your Don’t undermine your own and your station’s or channel’s reputation by station’s or channel’s reputation by asking questions which are factually asking questions which are factually incorrect.incorrect.

You can not expect the interviewee to You can not expect the interviewee to give you the due respect as a journalist give you the due respect as a journalist if you prove that you are ignorant.if you prove that you are ignorant.

Follow the BriefFollow the Brief

Never forget the angle and length of Never forget the angle and length of the interview that is required by the the interview that is required by the brief given to you by the editor or brief given to you by the editor or producer.producer.

Always keep to the point. Something Always keep to the point. Something that might interest you may be that might interest you may be totally irrelevant for the majority of totally irrelevant for the majority of the listeners. the listeners.

Check ArrangementsCheck Arrangements

Be on time. Don’t be late for any Be on time. Don’t be late for any reason.reason.

Check your equipment before you go Check your equipment before you go out for an interview.out for an interview.

Always carry spare batteries and Always carry spare batteries and tapes etc.tapes etc.

If possible also carry standby If possible also carry standby equipment with you. equipment with you.

Pre-ChatPre-Chat

““I must say, I get rather nervous I must say, I get rather nervous before these sort of interviews, my before these sort of interviews, my particular fear is that I will dry up.”particular fear is that I will dry up.”

Sir Mark Tully, Former BBC Bureau Sir Mark Tully, Former BBC Bureau Chief India, On His Way to Interview Chief India, On His Way to Interview Rajiv Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi

Why the pre-chat is important?Why the pre-chat is important?

Importance of Pre-chatImportance of Pre-chat Pre-chat helps the reporter to establish Pre-chat helps the reporter to establish

rapport with his subject, and the reporter rapport with his subject, and the reporter sounds out the course s/he has charted for sounds out the course s/he has charted for the interview.the interview.

In case the interviewee is inexperienced or In case the interviewee is inexperienced or nervous pre-chat helps him/her relax.nervous pre-chat helps him/her relax.

Humour can very effectively and easily Humour can very effectively and easily bring down the barriers between the bring down the barriers between the interviewer and interviewee. interviewer and interviewee.

But never rehearse an interview just But never rehearse an interview just discuss it.discuss it.

Discussing the QuestionsDiscussing the Questions Don’t let the interviewee control the Don’t let the interviewee control the

interview.interview. Don’t agree to supply a list of set questions Don’t agree to supply a list of set questions

before the interview, and never agree to before the interview, and never agree to stick to a list of set questions.stick to a list of set questions.

Don’t allow the interviewee to answer your Don’t allow the interviewee to answer your questions from notes or a script. Nothing questions from notes or a script. Nothing sound more horrible than that on air.sound more horrible than that on air.

But if the interview is non-controversial and But if the interview is non-controversial and there are no conflicts of interest you can there are no conflicts of interest you can save editing time by outlining your questions save editing time by outlining your questions and discussing the answers you are looking and discussing the answers you are looking for. for.

Preparing the QuestionsPreparing the Questions

Good questions produce good answers.Good questions produce good answers. The secret is to think ahead to the The secret is to think ahead to the

answers you are likely to get before answers you are likely to get before asking your questions.asking your questions.

Though preparing a set of questions is Though preparing a set of questions is constructive in planning the interview, constructive in planning the interview, but sticking closely to a list of questions is but sticking closely to a list of questions is highly undesirable during the course of highly undesirable during the course of interview.interview.

Why is that? Why is that?

Preparing the QuestionsPreparing the Questions

The problems are:The problems are: Eye contact is lost.Eye contact is lost. When the interviewer is concentrating When the interviewer is concentrating

on the written questions, s/he is unable on the written questions, s/he is unable to listen to the interviewee.to listen to the interviewee.

Fixed questions make for an inflexible Fixed questions make for an inflexible interview.interview.

If you intend to use notes for some If you intend to use notes for some specific reason use them sparingly.specific reason use them sparingly.

Ask Questions that Will Ask Questions that Will Fetch You AnswersFetch You Answers

The WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, The WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW framework for WHY and HOW framework for writing copy equally applies to the writing copy equally applies to the journalistic interview and the type of journalistic interview and the type of questions an interviewer should ask.questions an interviewer should ask.


The question ‘who’ calls for a name in The question ‘who’ calls for a name in response,response,

‘‘What’ asks for a description,What’ asks for a description, ‘‘when’ pins down the timing of the event,when’ pins down the timing of the event, ‘‘Where’ locates it,Where’ locates it, ‘‘Why asks for an interpretation or Why asks for an interpretation or

explanation,explanation, ‘‘How’ asks for an opinion or an How’ asks for an opinion or an

interpretation. interpretation.


Questions should be carefully Questions should be carefully structured to produce good useful structured to produce good useful quotes rather than one word quotes rather than one word comments.comments.


Questions beginning with these words will Questions beginning with these words will propel the interview forward and yield solid propel the interview forward and yield solid facts:facts:

‘‘Who’ was hurt in the crash?Who’ was hurt in the crash? ‘‘What’ caused the accident?What’ caused the accident? ‘‘When’ did it happen?When’ did it happen? ‘‘Where’ did the accident occur?Where’ did the accident occur? ‘‘Why’ did it take so long to free the trapped Why’ did it take so long to free the trapped

passengers?passengers? ‘‘How’ did you manage to get them out?How’ did you manage to get them out?

Yes/No QuestionsYes/No Questions

Never ask a question which can be Never ask a question which can be answered in YES or NO.answered in YES or NO.

Interviewer: Do you agree that the Interviewer: Do you agree that the security arrangements were not tight security arrangements were not tight enough to prevent violence during the enough to prevent violence during the bandh?bandh?

Police Chief: No, I don’t.Police Chief: No, I don’t. Interviewer: Why?Interviewer: Why? Because we had deployed enough force.Because we had deployed enough force.

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The Art of Interviewing Preparing for the Interview