Interviewing 101
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The document provides guidance on conducting interviews for journalistic purposes. It emphasizes listening skills, preparing questions based on the 5Ws and 1H, maintaining eye contact and taking notes during the interview. Reporters are advised to research the topic and person beforehand, dress appropriately, establish a rapport, ask open-ended questions, and get contact details for follow-up. Recorders should be used with permission where required by law. The inverted pyramid structure is outlined for organizing the collected information into a coherent story.
Interviewing 101
- 1. INTERVIEWING 101 5WS AND 1 H – THE BACKBONE THEN, THERE’S LISTENING. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION WHILE MAINTAINING GOOD EYE CONTACT, TAKING NOTES AND RECORDING THE INTERVIEW ON A TAPE RECORDER.* M O R E ON THAT LATER GOOD LISTENING: ― THE REAL PURPOSE OF REPORTING, OF JOURNALISM IS TO ILLUMINATE WHAT IS REAL, YOU KNOW, REAL EXISTENTIAL TRUTH. WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND US? THAT’S NOT SENSATIONALISM, THAT’S NOT MANUFACTURED CONTROVERSY, THAT’S NOT —IT’S ABOUT CONTEXT AND LISTENING .‖ C A R L B E R S T E I N O F W A T E R G A T E 1
- 2. EQUIPMENT Reporter’s notebook, a few pens and pencils, recorder, roster of questions written out in advance. First: Research the person and/or topic. Sources include resumes, library articles and published literature. - Questions: Based on 5W and 1H, then past, present and future - Organize questions into relevant categories: personal questions, professional, past accomplishments, current activities and future goals - Begin with general questions and follow up with specifics - Save controversial questions for last - IMPORTANT: Test each question for a Yes or No answer and upon confirmation, reword the question in an open ended answer - Keep questions to one idea per question and wording to a minimum. This is not the time to be making speeches. 2 http://bigthink.com/ideas/21732
- 3. RECORDERS Use the odometer on your recorder and write time next to each question - Batteries - Do not ask for permission; persuade for accuracy - Two party consent state: in Florida, you must inform if you are using a recorder 3
- 4. INTERVIEW PLAN Research - Make appointment: a neutral place so you’re on a level playing field. Sometimes it helps if you’re comfortable, too. - Establish how you are to address subject and vice versa: Ms. Sheppard or Jenn? Hopefully on a first name basis. - Chat first to break the ice: how’s the weather? Thank them for taking the time to speak with you. - Then, tell them your plan. It will put them at ease. - Dress appropriately: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. - Use methods if there is no time to research or you run out of questions: - GOALS- goals, obstacles, achievements, logistics, start over - GOSS- goals, obstacles, solutions, start over - Basically, everything has goals, find them and then identify obstacles in the way of those goals. After that, find out solutions to obstacles of various goals; start over. Focus on generals to specific. (You can go on endlessly.) It also works well with the past, present, future. - *Questions of logistics: what happened to get to this point? Is there a chronology of events that would help the reader understand? Use this to sprinkle in the details in your story - End – thank interviewee and leave, but not without getting email or phone number for follow up or clarification. Leave now because, if you linger, they might have second thoughts or tell you to trash the interview. 4
- 5. THE INTERVIEW Should be face-to-face - If you must use the telephone, which you should never settle for less and the person can just hang up on you, use it effectively: - Fully identify yourself and the point of the story - Keep the chit-chat to a minimum; questions to the point - Ask for clarification immediately if anything is unclear - Press for specifics and details - Verify spelling! John or Jon or Jawn or Jahn - Time may be a factor so chose questions wisely - Save controversial questions for end! 5
- 6. INVERTED PYRAMID Summary lede in which the most important things are summarized FIRST Then, the remainder is written with less and less details 6
- 7. HARD NEWS STORY Basics: Headline 1. Lede: beginning, catchy, compelling; one or two sentences: hard and soft ledes 2. Backup, if needed – to help the lede make sense 3. Nut graph – breaks down the story’s main point. You must have a nut, and it’s usually high in the story 4. Lead quote – strongest quote you have! Should also support lede without echoing it word-for-word 5. Impact or reaction – explain the background, explain how or why, show how this story affects or impacts the reader 6. End: sometimes, there isn’t one. Quit writing when you run out of information. Sometimes, there is no conclusion, no “a good time was had by all” like in fiction. When all else fails, use your second best quote – the kicker quote – to end your story. 7