Questions & interviews j1 stratton 2014 fall

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Questions & InterviewsWhat you should know

+Types of Questions6 Basic

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+The Basic Questions

There are six basic

questions

You know them

5W’s + H

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+WhoWho is involved?

Who does/did the situation affect?

Who said so?

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+WhatWhat is happening?

What did happen?

What are the consequences?

What is different about this?

What are the choices?

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+When

When did or will this happen?

When was this discovered?

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+WhereWhere did or will

this happen?

Where is someone?

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+Why

Why did this happen or will it happen?

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+HowHow did it or will it

happen?

How much does it cost?

How many people does this affect?

How do you feel about this?

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+HowHow did it or will it

happen?

How much does it cost?

How many people does this affect?

How do you feel about this?

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+Write your own

1. Write three questions on different sticky notes.

2. Think about how much information each question will get.

3. Place the question under the correct “sticky” sign.

You are going to interview a student on Homecoming (fall)/Diversity Month/Week (spring).

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+Write your own Create 3 questions You are going to interview a student on

Homecoming (fall)/Diversity Month/Week (spring).

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+Write your own

1. Write three questions on different sticky notes.

2. State who you are asking

3. Think about how much information each question will get.

4. Place the question under the correct “sticky” sign.

You are going to interview an administrator on the changes to the school budget.

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+Write your own Create 3 questions You are going to interview an administrator on the

changes to the school budget.

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+Write your own1. Which questions were written the most often?2. Which questions will gather the most information?

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+Remember:

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+Question BasicsThings to be aware

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+Questions to AvoidClose-ended Questions

These can be answered with a single word or a short phrase.

They’re often yes/no questions.

Limit the information obtained

Use only to verify what is already known

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+Best questions to ask EVEROpen-endedThese questions will

always give you the best answers.

These are questions that cannot be simply answered yes or no.

This forces the respondent to give you better, longer answers.

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+Follow-up Questions

Ask questions like:1. How long have you been playing (insert sport here)?

a) What has been the hardest (easiest) part of playing so long (short)?b) What other sports do you play?

2. Where have you played? (could be music, sports, video games)a) What is the most interesting place you have played?

3. What was your hardest (easiest) homework assignment or project?a) Why was it hard (easy)?b) How did you overcome the difficult part?c) What was your final grade on the homework / project?

Remember to ask open-ended questions

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+Write your ownRemember: These are the 6 basic questions.

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+Basic Question StrategiesThings to always do

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+Questions to always ask when interviewing

1. Name & it’s spelling

2. Age, Class standing (if appropriate)

3. Title / Position

4. Address (in real world)

5. How to get a hold of them for follow-up (phone number, e-mail)

6. 5 W’s & H of situation

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+Basic Questioning Strategies

1. Meet the respondent: icebreaker conversation 

2. Ask first serious question

3. Proceed to the heart of the interview

4. Ask "bomb" question if necessary Bomb questions are those

that are potentially sensitive or embarrassing.

1. Recovery from bomb question

2. Conclude interview

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+Optional General Questions:1. Hobbies

2. Sports

3. Likes/dislikes

4. Musical interests

5. Find out interesting fact that others don’t know

6. Make person interesting, someone others want to read about

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+The Interview What to do

How to act

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+ Interviewing 1

I. PrepareA. Define a purpose of the interviewB. Research story (person)

background1. Look in the morgue2. Check the library3. Ask other sources (consult family,

friends, co-workers)C. Make a list of questions (based on

research) and plan your strategyD. Set up an interview with

appropriate person and to their advantage

E. Dress appropriately

Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

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+Interviewing 2

II. During the interviewA. Be on time!B. Be politeC. Listen non-judgmentallyD. Ask open-ended questionsE. Take notes using their phrases

and wordsF. Make the person feel relaxedG. Ask for clarification

Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

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+Interviewing 3Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

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+Interviewing 4

II. During the interview

K. Be careful with off-the-record comments. Try to avoid them, but sometimes they can lead to questions in another interview. 

L. Listen to the responses. Your ability to ask good follow-up questions will usually determine how good your interview will be.

Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

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+Interviewing 5

III. Ending and after the interview

A. Ask if there is anything they would like to add

B. Look over your notes for any additional questions & clarification.

C. Go over all quotes with the respondent to check for accuracy

Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

GG

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+Interviewing 6

III. Ending and after the interviewD. Obtain all the information you

think you will need before concluding the interview, but be sure to ask if you can contact your respondent again if necessary.

E. Ask for phone number in case you need further clarification, but do not promise to let subject check story.

F. Thank the interviewee for his/her time.

Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

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+Interviewing 7

IV. After the interviewA. Write story immediately

after interview (within hour)

B. Double check facts (call source if needed)

Good reporters always do the following before, during, and after an interview:

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+Interviewing ProblemsFrom Rob Milton

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+Common Interviewing Problems 1

1. Failure to define and state the purpose of the interview.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 2

2. Lack of preparation.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 3

3. Failure to probe behind the answers.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 4

4. Vagueness Lack of concrete details.

A word or phrase is said to be vague if its meaning is not clear in context.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 5

5. Carelessness in appearance.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 6

6. Going into the interview with a preconceived notion versus… Not listening to respondent

is saying Not doing background

preparation.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 7

7. Convoluted or over-defined questions.

Instead ask precise, probing questions.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 8

9. Insensitivity

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 9

9. Failure to listen.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 10

10. Laziness — the “what’s new”

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 11

11. Filibustering This is when you talk too

much, and the experiences of the reporter, not the respondent, predominate.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 12

12. Aimlessness Keep the interview on

track.

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Common Interviewing Problems 13

12. Too many abstract instead of concrete questions.

Ideas or concepts with no physical reference.

Don’t try to “get inside their head.”

What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and even experienced reporters, at times — have?

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+Final TipsThing to remember

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+Final Interviewing Tips 11. Write from the heart

Go out among subjects Don’t write as after thought

1. Take a variety of types of quotes

2. Take a majority of quotes direct quotes

Personal stories Quotes are the story Get quotes live (be there or be

square)

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+Final Interviewing Tips 2

4. The Interview Ask open ended

questions Engage respondent

in icebreaking questions to start

Take time Regard personal

space Listen for details

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+Don’t Forget!

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