Interviewing Chapters 14-15

Three Types of Sources Human Sources Online Sources - Authorities -Can include human and physical sources - Eyewitnesses Library Resources - Officials - Participants Physical Sources - Records - Reference Works - Documents - Newspaper and Magazine Stories

Check Reliability There can be Pseudo-Sources Erin Brockovich

And Pseudo-Stories The Sexiest Man Alive?

Real people are important Here is an example. Stories are everywhere.

Internet Reliability Authority - Who put the page together and what are their qualifications? Accuracy - Is there another source you can check to verify information? Currency - Is the page up-to-date? Coverage - Is the material thorough? Objectivity - Are ads and copy clearly separated? If there is bias, is it clear? Reliability Ratings 1. Government Data 2. Studies by Universities and Colleges 3. Special-Interest Groups 4. Home Pages

Interviews News Interviews - Gather information to explain an event or situation in the news. Profile Interviews - The focus is on an individual. Here is an example.

Four Principles 1. Prepare Carefully 2. Establish a Relationship 3. Ask Questions that are Relevant 4. Listen and Watch Attentively Follow the two Ps.

During the Interview Let the source know what they are in for. In the best interviews, the source does all the talking. But don’t take them home with you …

Have a Theme in Mind - But list as many potential topics and questions as you can and don’t be afraid to deviate from the theme. Direct Questions - Flow from the theme Open-Ended Questions - Can be answered in general terms Closed Questions - Are looking for specifics Tough Questions Intrusive Questions Listen for the money quote. ?

Ground Rules Identify yourself at the beginning of the interview State the purpose of the interview Make clear to the interview subject how and where the material will be used Tell the source how long the interview will take Keep the interview as short as possible Ask specific questions the source is competent to answer Give the source ample time to reply Ask the source to clarify complicated or vague answers Read back answers when asked or when in doubt Insist on right-to-know answers Avoid lecturing, arguing or debating

Four Types of Information On the Record: All statements are directly quotable and can be attributed to the source by name and title. On Background: All statements are directly quotable, but should be attributed using general terms like “White House official.” On Deep Background: Any material from the interview is usable, but can’t be directly quoted or attributed. Off the Record: Information is for the reporter’s knowledge only and cannot be made public or taken to another source for confirmation.

Listening vs. Hearing Cut down your ego. It’s not about what you think and know Open your mind to new and different ideas Give the interview subject time to develop his or her thoughts Avoid interrupting Concentrate on what the person is saying rather than personality, appearance and demeanor Try to limit questions to the theme and other relevant ideas that come up Don’t ask long questions

A Guide for the Profile Let the reader: See the person - physical characteristics Hear the person - lots of great quotes Watch the person - lots of action Know the person - lots of details and background

Altering Quotes If you use a recorder, listen to verify quotes Corrections of grammar, syntax, stuttering and filling in explanatory words are all acceptable changes to quotations Cut irrelevant and wandering material It is acceptable to substitute words without changing the meaning If you do make changes, consider the whole and its accuracy

Phrasing Questions and More Let the interview subject know you are a pro. Vague questions often lead to vague answers. How you phrase the question can be as important as the question itself. If you use a recorder, take advantage of the counter. Check spellings, dates, statistics, quotes and cover how to follow up. End with, “Is there anything you feel we didn’t cover?”

What to Quote and What not to Quote Quote unique material. Quote unique phrasing. Quote someone important saying something important. Check the accuracy of information within the quotes as well as the accuracy of the quotes themselves. Don’t quote matters of public record. Don’t quote material that is generally known. Don’t quote material that is available from several sources. Don’t quote material that is easily verifiable. Don’t quote material that makes no assumptions, offers no opinions or is noncontroversial.

Dialect, Profanity and More Caught on Mic

Interesting Stats Only 13 of 98 quotes were verbatim, but only two were incompatible with the original meaning. Pulitzer Prize winners used a greater variety of physical sources than did nonwinners. The winners used more documents, reports, books and other printed matter and fewer interviews than did the nonwinners.