Conducting interviewsIntroduction

News interviews

Feature interviews

Interviewee questions

In-class exercise

Interview assignment

News interviews

Indentify yourself as a reporter for X media outlet

State what you’re looking for“I’m looking for reaction to/comments on …”

Guard against sources saying “You’re not going to quote me on this, are you?” halfway through interview.

Start with “Since I’ll be quoting you in the story, can you spell your full name?”

Establish source’s title or relationship to the story.

News interviews

If potential source doesn’t want to be interviewed, illustrate benefits of participating in the story:

-The opportunity to tell their side -Raise public awareness-Contribute to finding a solution

After covering the 5 Ws, look for colour: specific examples, exact details, imagery and emotion.

News interviews

Ask witnesses for sensory details: What did you see? What did you hear? How did it feel? How did it smell?

Leave the door open for follow-up questions and future stories. Get a phone number/email before leaving.

Feature interviews

Arrange to do interviews in person, unless there’s no other way. Suggest Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangout.

Interview the subject in a relevant environment.

Prepare questions in advance.

Use research to avoid asking obvious/redundant questions.

Test tape-recording device beforehand and bring notebook.

Feature/news interviews

Pros of taping interviews-Can focus on listening, rather than taking notes-Easier to ask questions on the fly-Helps with accuracy-Defense against claims of misquotation

Cons of taping interviews-Transcribing tape takes time-Difficult to zero in on best quotes-Possibility of device failure

Solution: Tape and take notes on best quotes, observations

Digging for treasure

Start with get-to-know-you questions, move toward more difficult ones.

Get more information by asking short, open-ended questions:

Can you give examples?How do you measure that?What are the next steps?How do you know that?How would you describe …?

Get clarification

Don’t be afraid of silence. Let the interviewee fill it in.

Getting clarification:“Can you put that in layman’s terms?”“What do you mean by …”“If I don’t understand, it will be hard for readers to understand …”“So, in a nutshell …”“What you’re saying is …”“Walk me through the timeline …”

Asking tough questions

Difficult questions-Stay calm and objective-Use research/evidence and consider having it with you-Distance yourself:“Critics are saying XYZ. How do you respond?”“To play Devil’s advocate …”“On the other hand, not everyone agrees …”

Traumatic situations

In a situation of loss, don’t ask “How do you feel?”

If a direct relative doesn’t want to speak, there may be an extended family member willing to answer your questions.

Ask about person’s character, impact, legacy.

Interviewee questions

Some frequently asked interviewee questions:

Can I see the questions in advance?Can I see the story before it gets published?Do you have to use my name?Can I offer you a gift/sample/free service?

Wrapping it up

Look through list of questions to see if you’ve covered them all.

“I will probably contact you for follow-up questions or to confirm facts before publication. Will you be available?”

“Who else would you suggest I interview?”

“Is there anything I’ve forgotten to ask?”

Interview exercise

Group 1: Stephen McNeil, Liberal leader, candidate in N.S. election.

Group 2: Dan Savage, syndicated sex columnist, speaking in Halifax soon.

Group 3: Darrell Dexter, Premier, NDP leader

Group 4: Photojournalist Marc Ellison, speaking at King’s this week.

Class profiles

Examples of student work:

Great leads

Active, vivid stories

Good quotes and details

Stories leave you curious