Interviewing

Definition

Interviewing is the process of conversing with individuals to gather information, insights, or opinions on a specific subject. It plays a crucial role in various fields, especially in journalism, where the goal is to uncover facts and perspectives to create compelling narratives. Effective interviewing requires building rapport with sources, asking thoughtful questions, and being able to handle conflicting information that may arise during the conversation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Building trust with interview subjects can lead to more honest and revealing responses, which is essential when navigating conflicting information.
2. Effective interviewing involves active listening skills that help the interviewer identify inconsistencies or conflicting information during the conversation.
3. Interviewers should prepare a mix of question types, including open-ended and follow-up questions, to encourage thorough exploration of topics.
4. Documenting interviews accurately is critical for later analysis and helps ensure that any conflicting statements can be cross-referenced effectively.
5. When faced with conflicting information, an interviewer should consider seeking out additional sources or experts to clarify discrepancies and ensure balanced reporting.

Review Questions

• How does building rapport with interview subjects influence the quality of information gathered during an interview?
  • Building rapport with interview subjects creates a comfortable environment that encourages openness and honesty. When interviewees feel at ease, they are more likely to share detailed insights and personal stories, which can lead to richer information. This trust is particularly important when navigating conflicting accounts, as it may help subjects feel more secure in sharing their true perspectives.
• Discuss the importance of using a variety of question types during interviews, especially when dealing with conflicting information.
  • Using a variety of question types during interviews helps to elicit comprehensive responses and clarifies any ambiguity. Open-ended questions allow subjects to express themselves freely and provide context, while follow-up questions can probe deeper into conflicting statements. This approach helps interviewers uncover underlying issues and better understand differing perspectives, ultimately leading to more accurate and balanced reporting.
• Evaluate strategies an interviewer can use to handle conflicting information obtained from multiple sources during an interview process.
  • To handle conflicting information effectively, interviewers should first verify each piece of information through fact-checking and corroborating with additional sources. They can also ask subjects about discrepancies directly, giving them the opportunity to clarify or explain their perspective. It’s essential for interviewers to remain neutral and objective while documenting these conflicts, as doing so will contribute to a fair representation of all viewpoints in their final narrative.

Related terms

open-ended questions: Questions that encourage detailed responses rather than simple yes or no answers, allowing for deeper insights during interviews.

fact-checking:

The process of verifying the accuracy of information gathered from interviews, which is vital when encountering conflicting information.

source reliability: The degree to which a source can be trusted to provide accurate and truthful information, which is essential in determining how to handle conflicting accounts.