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EN2120: Media StudiesJessica ThompsonAM112
How to conduct and Interview
What you will need:
An interviewee A story idea A notebook and pen A recording device (optional) A list of questions
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.
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
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.
Things to note:
What is saidHow it is saidWhat is not said
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.
Preparation
“Exhaustive research is the basic building block of a successful interview.”- Clyde Haberman, columnist with The New York Times.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sensitive SubjectsConsider 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?
The Questions
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)
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.
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?
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.
Tough QuestionsThese 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.
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.
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.
Interview Rules
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.
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.
Group WorkWatch 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?
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.
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.
Contact:Jessica Thompson
@Jess__Thompson
