Chapter 11 - Interviewing

Preparing for the Interview

• Interviewers must control the conversation, and they can only do that if they have properly prepared.

• Reporters should interview the real decision-makers or experts in an organization instead of settling for public relations (PR) staff who are often put forward just to take the blame or deflect hard questions.

• The more complex the story, the more sources the reporter will need.

• The news is supposed to reflect the entire community, and to do so, reporters must draw upon sources that reflect the racial, ethnic, religious and gender diversity of the community. Find diverse sources.

  • To find diverse sources, The Associated Press recommends two things: cast a wide net and focus on individuals.

    • “Cast a wide net” - Look beyond some of the traditional places for finding sources.

• Those who assume they understand what a source said or who fail to ask a critical question out of fear of appearing ignorant could make serious and embarrassing mistakes when they write their stories.

Conducting the Interview

• The prospect of being interviewed creates anxiety for some people, making it harder for them to answer questions.

  • Reporters can reduce the unease by conducting interviews in sources’ homes or offices, where they feel more comfortable.

• Whatever the location, a journalist should always arrive early and keep the interview within the agreed-on time.

• Reporters should start an interview with a clear statement of its purpose, if that’s not already understood.

• At the end of an interview, reporters should always ask sources if they have anything to add. Sometimes the most newsworthy information emerges in their response.

  • Finally, they should thank subjects for granting the interview.

• Reporters can enhance their appearance of neutrality by asking questions in ways that distance them from the opinions the questions may imply:

  • Sugarcoat questions.

  • Ask interviewees to explain their previous statements or actions or give their versions of controversial events.

  • Ask interviewees for the names of the people who support or criticize them. Then ask them to guess what their critics are most likely to say about them. This tactic often elicits information and tips for additional interviews.

• Sometimes the best approach is to simply ask the question, no matter how blunt or embarrassing it may be.

Interviewing Victims or Witnesses of Tragedy

• People who have survived events like crimes, accidents, or natural disasters, may have been injured or may have lost loved ones, and they may be experiencing extreme emotional distress. So…

  • Treat victims with dignity and respect.

  • Show empathy toward the victims.

  • Identify yourself clearly and immediately and state why you want to talk to them.

  • Do not condescend to victims. Avoid patronizing comments like “I know how you feel” or “I understand.”

• The way questions are formulated can have a major effect on how helpful traumatized sources will be.

  • Questions should never imply that the source behaved improperly or criminally.

• Reporters should get permission from parents or guardians before interviewing a child.

  • They should also make sure children and their parents understand the purpose of the interview and how the information will be used.

Special Situations

1. 11.2.5.1 - Telephone Interviews:

• Although telephone calls may be more comfortable to some sources, it is an unsatisfactory mean of conducting in-depth interviews about controversial or complex issues and personalities.

  • Cultivating sources is difficult if they are known only by telephone.

  • Disadvantage: They must be brief and superficial. Long telephone conversations may bore or annoy the sources.

2. 11.2.5.2 - Email Interviews:

• Reporters use this method to contact hard-to-reach or reluctant sources.

  • Besides being more convenient for some sources, the format also affords them an opportunity to develop their thoughts in detail, which means reporters get more thorough answers to their questions.

  • It also provides a written record of the interview.

• However, journalists relying on email interviews are deprived of their sources’ facial expressions, vocal inflections and body language, all of which can help reporters understand their sources better.

3. 11.2.5.3 - Online Interviews

• Online interviews are essentially high-tech telephone interviews, so subjects are just as likely to get bored.

4. 11.2.5.4 - Interviewing for Broadcast

• Usually for most print journalists the interview is the raw material for the piece. However, the interview is the piece (Terry Gross).

Why is taking notes important? Why is it a good idea to review notes immediately after the interview?

• Recording as much as possible decreases the chances for errors or omissions.

• Reporters review their notes immediately, while everything is fresh in their minds because the longer they wait, the more likely they are to forget some facts.

Why is it good to record interviews when possible?

• Recording interviews provides verbatim and permanent records, so interviewers make fewer factual errors.

• When reporters play the recording, they often find important statements they failed to notice during the interviews.

• One may record a conversation with the consent of only one party. In the case of an interview, the consenting party would be the person doing the recording.

  • Even where it is legal, taping a conversation without the other party’s consent raises ethical questions.

  • Undisclosed recording seems manipulative and invasive.

Final Thoughts

• Interviewing is an art form that requires practice.

  • If you are confused, use that.

  • If you have raw curiosity, use that.

  • If you have experience, use that.

  • Figure out what it is you have and make it work for you.

• With time and persistence, anyone can become excellent interviewers.

Writing the Interview Story

• Reporters must be sure that they keep every direct and indirect quotation in its proper context.

• Journalists also usually limit background information to a minimum and incorporate it where it is most necessary and helpful for explaining a source’s remarks.

How do reporters organize the questions they ask as well as the topics they want to cover?

One approach is called the “funnel” - It starts with a general question and moves to progressively more specific ones.

• The reverse funnel starts with questions about specifics and moves to more general matters. This is best used for breaking news, or “hard” news reporting, where efficiency is critical.

Preparing for the Interview

Continue your research

• Organize your questions (Funnel approach - Reverse funnel)

• Get to the interview on time

• Dress appropriately

During the Interview

• Relax and be friendly

• Begin with the basics and easy questions

• Focus your questions and keep them simple

• Look as well as listen

• Don’t interrupt and don’t be afraid of silence

• Ask follow-up questions

• Don’t take sides

Concluding the Interview

• Review your notes before ending the interview

• Anything else you’d like to add?

• Ask permission to follow-up, when is best time?

• Please contact me if you think of anything else (give them business card, etc.)

• Say “Thank You”