✍️Feature Writing Unit 4 – Conducting Effective Interviews

What's the Point?

• Interviews provide unique insights and perspectives that enrich feature stories
• Allow readers to connect with the subject on a more personal level
• Offer credibility to the story by including firsthand accounts and expert opinions
• Help uncover new information or angles that the writer may not have considered
• Bring the story to life with vivid quotes and anecdotes
• Can evoke emotions and create a stronger impact on the reader
• Provide an opportunity to clarify complex topics or issues

Key Interview Types

• In-person interviews offer the advantage of reading body language and building rapport
• Phone interviews are convenient and can be conducted from anywhere
• Email interviews allow for more thoughtful responses but lack spontaneity
• Group interviews can provide diverse perspectives but may be harder to control
  • Focus groups are a type of group interview that can yield valuable insights
• Expert interviews add credibility and depth to the story
• Character interviews focus on the subject's personal experiences and emotions
• Adversarial interviews involve questioning someone with opposing views

Pre-Interview Prep

• Research the topic thoroughly to ask informed questions
  • Review previous interviews, articles, and relevant documents
• Learn about the interviewee's background, expertise, and potential biases
• Prepare a list of questions that cover the key points you want to address
  • Organize questions in a logical flow
  • Include open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses
• Arrange the interview logistics (time, place, duration) and confirm with the subject
• Test your recording equipment and bring backups
• Review your goals for the interview and the overall story angle

Crafting Killer Questions

• Open-ended questions encourage the interviewee to provide more detailed and thoughtful answers
  • Examples: "Can you describe...," "How did you feel when...," "What motivated you to..."
• Avoid leading questions that suggest a specific answer
• Use follow-up questions to clarify or expand on interesting points
• Ask for specific examples or anecdotes to illustrate key ideas
• Include questions that challenge the interviewee's assumptions or provide alternative perspectives
• Save sensitive or controversial questions for later in the interview
• Prepare a mix of factual, opinion, and emotional questions

Interview Day Dos and Don'ts

• Arrive on time and be respectful of the interviewee's schedule
• Dress appropriately for the setting and subject matter
• Begin with small talk to build rapport and put the interviewee at ease
• Listen actively and maintain eye contact
  • Use nonverbal cues (nodding, smiling) to show engagement
• Take notes and record the interview (with permission)
• Don't interrupt or rush the interviewee
• Avoid multitasking or checking your phone during the interview
• Don't be afraid to ask for clarification or to rephrase a question

Handling Tricky Situations

• If the interviewee is evasive, try rephrasing the question or asking for specific examples
• When faced with a hostile interviewee, remain calm and professional
  • Acknowledge their concerns and try to find common ground
• If the interviewee goes off-topic, gently steer the conversation back to the main points
• When an interviewee reveals sensitive information, ensure you have their consent to include it in the story
• If the interviewee asks to go off the record, clarify what that means and respect their wishes
• When an interviewee becomes emotional, show empathy and allow them time to compose themselves

Post-Interview Magic

• Review your notes and recordings as soon as possible after the interview
• Transcribe key quotes and organize them by theme or topic
• Follow up with the interviewee to clarify any points or gather additional information
  • Send a thank-you note expressing your appreciation for their time
• Analyze the information gathered and look for patterns or surprising insights
• Incorporate the most compelling quotes and anecdotes into your feature story
  • Ensure quotes are accurate and used in the proper context
• Fact-check any information provided by the interviewee
• Consider reaching out to additional sources to provide context or alternative perspectives

Pro Tips and Tricks

• Build a rapport with the interviewee before diving into the tough questions
• Pay attention to the interviewee's nonverbal cues and adjust your approach accordingly
• Use silence as a tool to encourage the interviewee to elaborate
• Ask the interviewee if there's anything else they'd like to add at the end of the interview
• Be prepared to deviate from your planned questions if the conversation takes an interesting turn
• Record the interview in a quiet location to minimize background noise
• Practice active listening and avoid interrupting the interviewee
• Consider conducting the interview in a location that's comfortable for the interviewee (their home or office)