10 tips for recording better multimedia interviews

How to record better interviewsin 10 quick steps

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.01 Know your character and story before you start filming

This is the most important part of the whole process: the investment in time and story makes multimedia storytelling stand out from the TV news parachutists.

The best stories (Like Last Minutes with Oden are triumphs of access and trust).

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.02 Plan your questions to elicit the story in the strongest way.

Once you know what the story is you can plan your questions in advance so the subject reveals the story in their own words.

Interviews for this form of storytelling are not about fact-finding: they are about revealing the story in an engaging way.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.03 Ask some warm up questions to make them feel comfortable.

Interviewees are often very nervous about the experience. It's unlikely they'll leap straight into a great anecdote, so make your first questions simple and basic.

You'll probably never use this part of the audio, but it'll help your subject forget they are being interviewed.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.04 Explain everything that you're doing.

People have different ideas about how video is made. Many think there'll be a huge crew, lights, cables and trucks involved – not just you and your camera!

They also think it'll take hours and hours, so explain the process thoroughly, and reassure them the interview doesn't take long.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.05 Save the toughest questions until the end.

A good tip for journalists of all types: don't blow the whole interview by pissing off your subject at the first pass.

If there's something you think they might find difficult or reluctant to talk about, save it 'til near the end: that way you don't loose a whole interview if they walk out.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.06 Ask them the same question until you get the right answer.

The advantage of knowing the story in advance is you sort-of know what you want your subject to say.

They don't always explain themselves how you'd like them too, so keep nudging them in the right direction by rephrasing questions until they tell their story in the right way.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.07 Be enthusiastic – but silent.

You need to encourage your interviewee but not vocally. In conversation we use noises like “OK”, “uh-huh” or “sure” to show we're listening.

In an interview you have to convey all this using your face without uttering a word – so nod enthusiastically, and smile when they say something good.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.08 Ask for anecdotes.

Ira Glass of This American Life says great storytelling is made up of anecdotes. They have more colour and let us vividly picture a scene.

So get your interviewee to talk about specific moments that illustrate how they feel.

If they're talking about how hard it is to get a job, get a specific example of a job they've been applying for.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.09 Ask double-barrelled questions.

Great little tip this: ask double-barrelled questions to get full-sentence answers from your subject.

Asking two questions in one forces them to create a full sentence to answer both.

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

.10 End with a good summary question.

Good examples include:

“Is there anything else you feel we haven't covered?”

“If you could sum everything up in a sentence, what would you say?”

How to record better interviewsHow to record better interviews

Adam WestbrookNovember 2011

Adam@adamwestbrook.co.uk @AdamWestbrook

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