EN2120 How to conduct an Interview
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This document provides guidance on how to conduct effective interviews for journalistic purposes. It discusses preparing for interviews through research, establishing rapport with interview subjects, asking open-ended questions, and taking thorough notes. The document also outlines different types of interviews and important aspects to consider like body language and unspoken responses. Effective interviewing is presented as a fundamental skill for journalism careers.
EN2120 How to conduct an Interview
- 2. How to conduct and Interview
- 3. What you will need: An interviewee A story idea A notebook and pen A recording device (optional) A list of questions
- 4. Why interview? A reporter’s job often requires them to ask people for information. For this reason, mastering interview techniques is essential to a career in journalism.
- 5. For Effective Interviews: Prepare carefully: Do your research Establish a relationship with the source so that they are comfortable talking to you Ask questions that allow the source to talk freely: open-ended questions Have a theme in mind before the interview: know what you want to know Look out for important themes and develop them: Listen
- 6. Three kinds of Interviews: News interview: The purpose is to gather information to explain an idea, event or situation in the news. Profile: The focus is on an individual. A news peg often is used to justify the profile. Q&A: Straight-forward question and answers.
- 7. Things to note: What is said How it is said What is not said
- 8. News stories are based on: Physical sources: records, files, references Direct observations Interviews with human sources Online sources No story is effective without some sort of interview.
- 9. Preparation
- 10. “Exhaustive research is the basic building block of a successful interview.” - Clyde Haberman, columnist with The New York Times.
- 11. Persistence Persistence is necessary when persuading the source to talk to you about a story. Persistence is essential when the source is talking about a subject that they do not wish to talk about.
- 12. Treat everyone the same: “The preparation is the same whether you are going to interview a diplomat, a jockey, or an ichthyologist. From the man's past you learn what questions are likely to stimulate a response.” - A.J. Liebling, The Most of A.J. Liebling
- 13. Research Google the subject for background: Twitter, personal websites, books, etc. Check Google News for any recent news on him/her. If it’s a local story, check the local papers for any recent news.
- 14. Why Research? Research gives the reporter ideas for themes and specific questions. Research gives the reporter a feel for the story and for the person they will be interviewing. Research provides the reporter with useful background information.
- 15. Why Research? Research shows the subject that you have done the work and you understand the story. Research will help you to avoid embarrassing situations such as: “That information is on my website, you should look it up.” Research will separate the boys from the men, and will mean the difference between a boring discussion for the interviewee, or a chat that they enjoy.
- 16. Themes and Questions Theme: The purpose of the interview is to obtain quotes, anecdotes and other evidence to support your theme. Make sure you have one. Questions: Write out a list to keep you on track. Plan out more questions than you’ll need: it’s better to have too much information then not enough.
- 17. Sensitive Subjects Consider how the interviewee will react: What is his/her role in the event? Which side is he/she on (if any)? What is his/her probable attitude to the story? What defences is he/she likely to have for your questions and how can you get past these?
- 18. The Questions
- 19. Housekeeping Questions Name: it’s essential you get the correct spelling, e.g.: Aisling or Ashling? Conor or Connor? Walsh or Walshe? Thompson, Thomson or Tompson? Age (often included in newspapers) Education or jobs held if necessary Family information (depending on the story)
- 20. Direct Questions These come from the theme of the story. For a story about an accident these would be the 5Ws and the H: Who? What? Why? Where? When? How? For more complicated interviews, direct questions will still flow from the theme that the reporter has in mind before the interview.
- 21. Open and Close-Ended Questions An open-ended question does not require a specific answer, i.e.: what do you think of Galway’s music scene? A close-ended question calls for a brief, pointed reply, i.e.: will you be gigging in Galway any time soon?
- 22. Points to Note Radio and television interviews often end with close-ended questions to give the interview a definite ending. These often have ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers, so avoid them if you want more information. Open-ended questions provide a lot more information for a feature-length story, but be aware: asking only open-ended questions could make it look like you’re not prepared and are fishing for a story.
- 23. Tough Questions These are the questions the interviewee might not want to answer. These are often used for exposés. Don’t start with the tough questions. Ease into them. Make the interviewee feel like they can trust you.
- 24. Intrusive Questions The questions most reporters hate to ask, because they concern the private lives of the interviewee. Some questions are necessary; some are out of line.
- 25. Random Questions Can be included in a serious interview. These questions can make the interview feel more like an informal chat. They can also avoid a situation where they interviewee becomes nervous after answering a serious question. For example: “What’s going on over there?” can break the tension and encourage conversation before getting back to business.
- 26. Interview Rules
- 27. Interview Rules Identify yourself before the interview State the purpose of the interview Make sure they know the information they provide will be used. Tell the source how much time it will take. Keep it short. Ask specific questions that the source is qualified to answer.
- 28. Interview Rules Give the source time to reply. Ask them to explain any vague or complex answers. Read back the answers if requested or if you need them to clarify anything. Insist on an answer if the public has a right to know. Abide by background only, off-the-record, or non-attribution if the source insists.
- 29. Group Work Watch the following interview and decide whether it’s good or bad. What was good/bad about it? How could it have been improved (if at all)? How did it make the interviewee feel? How did it make you feel to watch? Any further thoughts?
- 31. Interview Tips Don’t plunge in with tough questions unless you have to. Watch and listen closely. Don’t be afraid to ask naïve questions. The interviewee will understand you don’t know everything. Don’t give up on a question if the interviewee says “no comment”. Stay alert.
- 32. Group Work Think of someone you’d like to interview. Use a smartphone to do 10-15 minutes of research on that person. Come up with the following: The reason you chose this person. Some background information. An interview theme. A list of relevant questions.
Editor's Notes
- #4: Note: If using a recording device, always record the interviewee’s consent, i.e.: “I’ve just started the recorder, is that ok with you?”
- #6: What research should you do? Interviewee’s background and history. The background of the news event (if you’re interviewing them for a news story) Previous interviews with the source: there’s nothing worse than asking a question and having the source tell you that the information you want is on the first page of Google. Open-ended questions: Avoid yes or no answers and have extra questions prepared, just in case. Listen to what they say; they might tell you something important that hasn’t been reported by someone else. Look for a new angle.
- #19: Once you’ve done your research, you’ll have one or more possible themes for the interview and these will help you to come up with relevant questions that may not have been asked before. Before asking specific questions in line with your theme, it’s often necessary to ask a few ‘housekeeping’ questions. These are easy to answer and may put the interviewee at ease before going into the hard bit.
- #28: “My name is Jessica Thompson and I’m a reporter with the Connacht Tribune.” 2. “I’m getting in touch with you regarding your research into the effects of plastic and litter on sea birds.” 3. “I was wondering if you could provide me with some information for a feature in next week’s paper.” 4. “Do you have ten minutes free to talk to me?”
- #32: An open-ended question is a good way to start (unless you have house-keeping questions). This creates a conversational atmosphere and puts the interviewee at ease. How is he/she reacting to your questions? This will give you a feel for how the interview is going. Listening to what the source is telling you can inspire further questions that you might not have thought of before. Watching for body language is always great for a profile piece. Just make sure you’ve done your research. If you couldn’t find the answer to your questions, it’s perfectly ok to ask. Rephrase the question. Rephrase the question again. If he/she still clams up, ask where you could get the answer to your question. If they have an opponent on the other side of the story, tell them that the other side is providing comment and the story will go ahead with or without their comment. Often the best quotes come when the interviewee thinks the interview is over; he or she might make a crucial remark when he/she begins to relax.