5.2 Interview preparation and execution
4 min read•july 18, 2024
Interviews are the lifeblood of journalism, providing firsthand accounts and expert insights. Proper preparation is key to conducting effective interviews that yield valuable information and compelling quotes for your stories.
Mastering interview techniques allows journalists to adapt to various sources and situations. From crafting thoughtful questions to and organizing data, these skills help reporters gather the crucial details that bring their stories to life.
Interview Preparation
Crafting effective interview questions
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Top images from around the web for Crafting effective interview questions
Interviewing a source: Tips View original
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- Determine the purpose and focus of the interview
- Identify the main topic and angle of the story (local election, education reform)
- Establish what information needs to be gathered (candidate positions, policy impacts)
- Research the interviewee and subject matter thoroughly
- Gather background information on the person being interviewed (career history, public statements)
- Familiarize yourself with the topic to ask informed questions (recent developments, key issues)
- Create that encourage detailed responses
- Avoid yes/no questions that limit the interviewee's response
- Use "how," "why," and "what" to prompt elaboration ("How has your experience shaped your views on...")
- Structure questions in a logical order
- Begin with easier, introductory questions to build rapport ("Can you tell me about your background in...")
- Progress to more complex or sensitive topics ("What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding...")
- End with a question that allows the interviewee to add any additional thoughts ("Is there anything else you'd like to share...")
- Prepare based on anticipated responses
- Anticipate potential answers and have related questions ready ("If you mention X, I'll ask about Y")
- Be prepared to probe deeper into interesting or unexpected responses ("That's fascinating, can you expand on...")
Active listening for elaboration
- Maintain eye contact and use nonverbal cues to show engagement
- Nodding, smiling, and leaning forward demonstrate interest
- Avoid distracting behaviors like checking your phone or looking away
- Use verbal affirmations to encourage the interviewee to continue
- Say "mhm," "I see," or "go on" to show you're listening
- Repeat key phrases or words to prompt further explanation ("You mentioned 'innovative approach,' what does that entail?")
- Ask follow-up questions based on the interviewee's responses
- Seek clarification or additional details when needed ("Can you give an example of how that policy would work in practice?")
- Use phrases like "Can you tell me more about..." or "What do you mean by..."
- Allow for moments of silence to give the interviewee time to think
- Resist the urge to fill every pause with a new question
- Silence can encourage the interviewee to share more information
- Summarize key points to ensure understanding and encourage elaboration
- Paraphrase the interviewee's main ideas to confirm accuracy ("So, what you're saying is...")
- Ask if there's anything else they'd like to add on the topic ("Is there another aspect of this issue we haven't covered?")
Interview Execution
Adapting techniques for diverse sources
- Tailor your approach based on the interviewee's personality and role
- Use a more formal tone with high-profile or expert sources (government officials, academics)
- Adopt a conversational style with everyday people or human interest stories (local residents, event attendees)
- Consider the sensitivity of the topic and the interviewee's comfort level
- Be empathetic and respectful when discussing personal or emotional subjects (health issues, family matters)
- Offer to keep certain information off the record if requested ("We can keep that detail anonymous if you prefer")
- Adjust your questioning style based on the interview format
- In-person interviews allow for more nonverbal communication and
- Phone or video interviews may require more verbal affirmations and clear questions
- Be flexible and prepared to deviate from planned questions when necessary
- Follow interesting tangents or unexpected revelations ("That's an intriguing point, can we explore that further?")
- Adapt to changes in the interviewee's availability or willingness to talk
Organization of interview data
- Record the interview if possible and permitted
- Use a reliable recording device or app (smartphone, digital recorder)
- Always ask for the interviewee's consent before recording
- Take thorough notes during the interview
- Jot down key quotes, facts, and observations
- Use shorthand or abbreviations to keep up with the conversation
- Transcribe the interview as soon as possible after it concludes
- Listen to the recording and type out the full conversation
- Fill in any gaps in your notes and ensure accuracy
- Highlight and organize the most relevant and compelling information
- Identify quotes that support your story angle or reveal new insights
- Group related ideas or themes together (economic impact, personal anecdotes)
- Create a system for easy retrieval and reference
- Label and date your notes and transcripts clearly ("Mayoral_Candidate_Interview_04152023")
- Store them in a designated folder or file system
- Consider using a spreadsheet or database for longer projects with multiple interviews
Key Terms to Review (29)
Active Listening: Active listening is the process of fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said during a conversation. It involves engaging with the speaker by providing feedback and clarifying information, which helps build rapport and trust. This technique is crucial for effective communication in various scenarios, as it enhances understanding and fosters deeper relationships with sources, interview subjects, and during on-the-scene reporting.
Active listening: Active listening is a communication technique that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the speaker says. It goes beyond just hearing words; it requires engagement with the speaker to ensure a deeper understanding of their message. This technique is crucial for effective interaction, particularly in situations where gathering information and building rapport are essential.
Developing rapport: Developing rapport refers to the process of building a trusting and understanding relationship with someone, which is essential during interviews to facilitate open communication. When rapport is established, the interviewee is more likely to share valuable insights and feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics. This connection can lead to more genuine responses, making the interview more effective and enriching for both the interviewer and the interviewee.
Expert Interview: An expert interview is a conversation with a knowledgeable individual in a specific field or topic, aimed at gathering insights, opinions, and information that can enhance the depth and credibility of a story. This type of interview is crucial for developing content that resonates with audiences, providing authoritative perspectives, and enriching narratives in both journalistic reporting and feature writing.
Follow-up questions: Follow-up questions are inquiries posed during an interview that seek to gain deeper insights or clarification on a previous response. They are essential for probing further into a topic, ensuring clarity, and encouraging the interviewee to elaborate on their thoughts or experiences, which enriches the overall narrative.
Hostile interviewee: A hostile interviewee is an individual who is uncooperative, defensive, or confrontational during an interview, often making it challenging for the interviewer to obtain information. This type of interviewee can react negatively to questions, exhibit aggressive body language, or express a clear reluctance to engage with the interviewer. Understanding how to approach and manage such situations is essential for effective interview preparation and execution.
Informed Consent: Informed consent is the process of obtaining permission from individuals before participating in research, interviews, or other forms of data collection, ensuring they are fully aware of the nature, risks, and purpose of their involvement. This concept is crucial in ethical journalism, as it respects the autonomy of individuals and promotes transparency, accountability, and trust between journalists and their sources.
Janet Malcolm: Janet Malcolm was a prominent American journalist and author known for her critical examinations of the journalistic process and the ethics of reporting. She gained recognition for her sharp insights into the complexities of interviews and the relationships between journalists and their subjects, which is essential in understanding interview preparation and execution.
Man-on-the-street: A man-on-the-street interview refers to a type of informal interview where reporters ask ordinary people for their opinions or reactions on various topics, often in public spaces. This approach captures spontaneous responses and provides a snapshot of public sentiment, making it a useful tool in journalism for gathering diverse perspectives and enhancing storytelling.
Man-on-the-street interview: A man-on-the-street interview is a type of informal interview where journalists ask random people questions in public places to gather opinions or reactions on a specific topic. This method is often used to capture the pulse of the community and provides diverse perspectives that can enhance storytelling. These interviews are typically spontaneous, which helps reveal authentic, real-life insights and opinions from everyday individuals.
Notepads: Notepads are essential tools used by journalists for recording notes, quotes, and key information during interviews. They help keep thoughts organized and ensure that important details are captured accurately, which is critical for producing reliable and well-informed stories.
Off-the-record: Off-the-record refers to information shared by a source that is not intended for publication and cannot be attributed to that source. This concept is crucial in building trust between journalists and their sources, allowing for candid discussions that can provide context or background without the risk of public disclosure. Understanding off-the-record is essential for journalists during interviews, as it helps navigate the delicate balance between obtaining valuable insights and respecting confidentiality.
On-the-record: On-the-record refers to information provided by a source during an interview that can be quoted and attributed directly to that person. This concept is crucial for transparency and accountability in journalism, allowing reporters to use the source's statements in their stories with full attribution. It establishes a formal agreement between the journalist and the source, ensuring that the information shared can be publicly reported.
Open-ended questions: Open-ended questions are inquiries that require more than a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, allowing respondents to elaborate and provide detailed responses. This type of questioning is crucial in interviews as it encourages deeper discussion, fosters a comfortable dialogue, and helps reveal insights that might not emerge from closed questions. By using open-ended questions, interviewers can build rapport and encourage interviewees to share their thoughts and feelings freely.
Open-ended questions: Open-ended questions are inquiries that allow for elaborate, detailed responses rather than simple 'yes' or 'no' answers. These types of questions encourage deeper conversation and can lead to richer insights, making them a crucial tool in gathering information during interviews.
Pre-interview checklist: A pre-interview checklist is a tool used by journalists to ensure they are fully prepared before conducting an interview. It includes essential items such as research notes, key questions, and logistical considerations that help streamline the interview process and enhance the quality of information gathered.
Primary Sources: Primary sources are original documents or firsthand accounts that provide direct evidence or insight into a particular event, person, or time period. They serve as crucial building blocks for understanding history and are invaluable in research and reporting, allowing journalists to present accurate and authentic narratives.
Rapport building: Rapport building is the process of establishing a positive and trusting relationship between individuals, often essential in effective communication. This connection helps in creating an open atmosphere where parties feel comfortable sharing information, leading to more fruitful interactions. It is particularly important in situations where trust is necessary, such as interviews and when developing long-term sources.
Recording devices: Recording devices are tools used to capture audio or video during interviews, enabling journalists to accurately document conversations and gather information. These devices can range from handheld recorders to smartphones and professional cameras, allowing for high-quality recording that can be referenced later. Effective use of recording devices is crucial in ensuring the reliability and authenticity of quotes and information gathered during interviews.
Research Background: Research background refers to the process of gathering and analyzing information relevant to a story or subject before conducting interviews. This preparation helps journalists understand the context, identify key issues, and formulate insightful questions that can lead to more meaningful conversations during interviews. Being well-informed about the topic ensures that journalists can engage effectively with sources and uncover deeper insights.
Researching the subject: Researching the subject refers to the process of gathering information and understanding a topic in depth before conducting an interview. This practice is crucial as it enables the interviewer to formulate relevant questions, establish rapport with the interviewee, and engage in a more meaningful conversation. By having a solid grasp of the subject matter, the interviewer can demonstrate credibility and professionalism, leading to a more productive interview.
Respondent evasiveness: Respondent evasiveness refers to the tendency of interview subjects to avoid providing direct answers to questions, often due to discomfort, lack of knowledge, or a desire to control the narrative. This behavior can significantly hinder the flow and quality of an interview, making it crucial for interviewers to identify and address such evasiveness effectively during the preparation and execution phases.
Secondary Sources: Secondary sources are documents or recordings that provide information derived from primary sources or firsthand accounts, offering interpretations, analyses, or summaries of original materials. These sources play a crucial role in research and journalism by providing context, background, and diverse perspectives, enabling journalists to enrich their stories with a broader understanding of the subject matter.
Structured interview: A structured interview is a research method that involves a set of predetermined questions that are asked in a specific order, ensuring consistency and reliability in the data collected. This type of interview is designed to gather specific information while minimizing the influence of interviewer bias, allowing for a more objective analysis of the responses. The structured format also facilitates comparison across different interviews and makes data analysis easier.
Time Constraints: Time constraints refer to the limitations placed on the amount of time available to complete a task, which can significantly impact the quality and effectiveness of journalistic work. In journalism, these constraints can affect how interviews are prepared and executed, as well as the ability to gather accurate and timely information on-the-scene. Understanding these limitations is crucial for journalists to prioritize their efforts and make informed decisions under pressure.
Time constraints: Time constraints refer to the limitations placed on the amount of time available to complete a task or process, often creating pressure to deliver results quickly. In journalism, these constraints can impact how interviews are prepared and conducted, as well as the ability to report live events effectively. They necessitate a balance between thoroughness and speed, influencing how information is gathered, assessed, and communicated.
Transcribing: Transcribing is the process of converting spoken language into written text, typically through careful listening and note-taking. This is crucial in journalism, especially during interviews, as it allows reporters to accurately capture the words and nuances of their subjects, ensuring that the information is represented faithfully. Transcribing not only aids in preserving the content of an interview but also enhances the quality of reporting by enabling deeper analysis and contextualization of the responses given by interviewees.
Unstructured Interview: An unstructured interview is a flexible and open-ended method of gathering information where the interviewer does not follow a strict set of questions. This approach allows for free-flowing conversation, enabling the interviewee to express thoughts and feelings in their own words. It is particularly useful for exploring complex topics in depth, as it can lead to unexpected insights and allows the interviewer to adapt the discussion based on the responses given.
Video camera: A video camera is an electronic device used to capture moving images and sound, typically for recording, broadcasting, or live streaming. It plays a crucial role in visual storytelling and journalism by enabling reporters to document events, conduct interviews, and create engaging content for various media platforms.