Conducting The Interview - Journalism

NEWS GATHERING: Conducting the Interview 3. Know what you want to accomplish in the interview.
4. Make a list of 15-20 good solid questions which focus in on

INTERVIIEW the subject you are going to talk about. You might not use all
-bedrock of information gathering in news writing. the questions, but it is better to have too many than too few.
-defined as the process in dyadic, relational, communication,
with a predetermined and serious purpose designed to TYPES OF QUESTIONS TO ASK
interchanged behavior involving the asking and answering of 1. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a “yes”
questions. or “no” or one-word answers. It may be necessary to ask two
or three of these questions during an interview to clarify some
Dyadic information, but these questions do not invite the interviewee
-denotes that an interview is person to person interaction to respond with quotable comments.
between two parties
2. Use the Ws and H to form relevant questions that will get
Relational the interviewee to open up with you. The what, how and why
-strongly suggests an interpersonal connection between the are especially good for this because these questions cause
interview parties. the interviewee to explain something to you, and that means
he or see will be speaking in entire sentences, possibly even
Predetermined and serious purpose paragraphs, rather than in one-word responses.
-At least one of the two parties come to the interview with a a. What are your feelings on the bond issue?
goal and has planned the interview to focus on specific subject b. What do you think was the deciding factor in the race?
matter. c. Why did people respond so enthusiastically to this
proposal?
Interchanging Behavior d. Why would it be a good idea to do this?
-connotes sharing of expectations, roles, feelings and e. How was this accomplished?
information. f. How will the money be raised?
g. Use the other Ws to obtain other pertinent information.
Asking and answering Questions
-taken as a single process; crucial to the interviewing process; 3. If you have done your research properly and you have
questions serve as tools to obtain information. learned of an anecdote involving your interviewee, you can
always use the “tell me” method:
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS a. Tell me about the time your pig took first place in the
Fact interview: This type of interview is a straightforward Houston Livestock Show.
question-and-answer conversation intended to get facts and b. Tell me what it was like to be Homecoming queen.
quotations for advance stories or supplementary/follow-up
coverage of past events. These are routine interviews and can Conducting the interview
be conducted over the telephone if necessary. 1. Be on time, with adequate supplies of paper and writing
utensils.
Personal interview: A more formal approach, also called the 2. Introduce yourself and the purpose of the interview.
feature interview. The reporter should prepare a list of 3. Be friendly and courteous, but remember you have a job to do.
questions ahead of time, but be prepared to take a different 4. Volunteer information only when it is necessary to stimulate
path of questioning if the situation calls for it. the conversation or to get it back on track.
5. Don’t interrupt.
6. Avoid overly personal questions.
Group interview:
7. Ask specific, thought-provoking questions; avoid yes-or-no
1. Man-on-the-street or inquiring reporter. The reporter
questions.
asks the same question of interviewees selected at random.
8. Don’t let the conversation run wild, but if an unexpected angle
The answers may be limited to one or two sentences, and are should develop, be prepared
printed just as given, with no comment from the reporter. 9. Take good notes, but don’t distract the interviewee while doing
These might be published in an inquiring reporter type of so. Use a tape recorder, if you want to, but don’t depend on it
column along with a small picture of the interviewee. exclusively.
10. Obtain all the information you think you will need before
2. Symposium interview: The reporter gathers statements concluding the interview, but be sure to ask if you can contact
from several people, usually authorities or specialists with your interviewee again if necessary. Get a phone number where
similar interests or expertise. The statements are compared, he/she can be reached.
contrasted, analyzed or interpreted, and are used as direct 11. Go over all quotes with the interviewee to check for accuracy.
and indirect quotes throughout an article. Z 12. Thank the interviewee for his/her time.
13. Never agree to let the interviewee read the story before it is
CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW published. If your paper is prior reviewed by an administrator, you
1. Make an appointment in advance. do not need anyone else doing so. If you are fortunate enough
2. Learn as much about the topic or person as you can so that not to be under prior review, don’t open any doors for it.
you can ask intelligent questions.

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NEWS GATHERING: Conducting the Interview 3. Know what you want to accomplish in the interview.

4. Make a list of 15-20 good solid questions which focus in on

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