| Step |
Action |
1
|
Be polite and on time (better yet: Early) to the interview.
|
2
|
Thank the subject for his/her time.
Smile and shake hands.
|
3
|
Reintroduce yourself and remind your subject of the
purpose of the interview.
|
4
|
Pay attention to your surroundings and remain sensitive
to the "vibe."
Look for details that set a mood or reveal personality. Including these details often make for better stories.
|
5
|
Allow the subject to stray from the topic but remain
in control of the interview.
Reference: You may get another or better story
by allowing the subject to stray from the topic.
|
6
|
Maintain eye contact.
Nod and smile and look interested.
Important: Do not "zone out."
Listen to the answers. They will provide information
for follow-up questions. Clarify any details the interviewee vaguely mentions.
|
7
|
Provide the subject with the time to answer the questions
completely. Remember: They are the source, not you.
Save controversial "bomb" questions for near the end, but
do not skip them. "Bomb" questions are questions like, in this instance to whore-hopping ex-president Bill Clinton: "Did you have sexual relations with that woman?" These questions must be worded in such a way that the interview continues, and that the interviewee is not immediately turned off enough to walk away or refuse to continue the interview. "Bomb" questions are where "asking truth to power" truly comes into good journalism. Asking "bomb" questions in the White House press room may have you permanently banned, however. So stay professional!
Important: Ask for clarification if you do not
understand something. Ask the subject to repeat an answer
if necessary.
|
IF...
|
THEN...
|
| you need to clarify a point before the interview
ends, |
write a question mark in the margin. |
| you get a direct quote, |
put quotation marks around it.
Important: Don't fixate on quotes so much that you don't listen to the interviewee. Interviewees, like all other people, are very keen on noticing when someone is not listening to them, usually by the interviewers non-verbal cues.
|
| the subject says something in which you are not
interested or will not use, |
don't write it down. |
Ask for details.
|
8
|
Gather all of your information the first time, if possible.
Ask the subject if you can contact him again if necessary.
|
9
|
Determine whether the subject knows of any other people
you can contact regarding this topic.
Important: Double check the spelling of all
names, proper nouns, titles, and addresses.
Thank the subject again for his cooperation.
|
10
|
IF the subject asks
to see the piece before it is aired, THEN tell
him you will probably not have it finished until moments before the broadcast, and that afterwards he may request a transcript or a copy of the story from you. Give him your contact information to facilitate in this process. |
11
|
Reread you notes immediately after the interview.
Some journalists find writing a three to five sentence summary in their notebook
at the end of each interview helps in the future writing of the story.
|
