Interviewing Conducting the Interview and Putting It Together

Interview Object Activity Take out an object and a sheet of paper. Write 5 REALLY GOOD interview questions you could ask your object. DO NOT answer the questions (that would be weird)…just write them As we discuss Interviewing, you will be checking these questions to determine if they are good interview questions

Interview Formal conversation between a reporter and a source

Human Element quotations and personal interpretations gathered in an interview that make stories interesting to readers and viewers

Quotation the exact words spoken by a source and cited as such in a media story Use open-ended questions

Primary Sources Person or document essential to the meaning of a story Every story has at least 1 primary source  Some stories will have several

Primary Source So, you’re writing a story about your “object” (not really, but pretend you are) What would your PRIMARY source for the story be? Your OBJECT On your paper, write “Primary: (Object)”  Example: Primary: iPhone 5

Secondary Sources Person or doc that adds info and interest to a story but is not essential to it Sources can be people or physical sources like books, surveys, budgets, etc.

Secondary Source Now that your primary source (your object) has spent some time in your bookbag or purse today, what is a secondary source you could use to find out more information about your object? (Source could also be at home) On your paper, write “Secondary: (Object)”  Example: Secondary: earbuds

Researching 1 st : Find out who/what are primary sources 2 nd : Make a list of sources 3 rd : Do as much research online, in library, etc. as possible to prepare for interview You never want to ask questions in an interview that you could answer with research

Research Gather enough background info in your research to write questions that will add valuable info to your story You’ll get better quotes this way too

Could you have researched? Look over your list of questions Are any of your questions something that you could have answered if you had done a little research? Put a star by any question you could have answered with research

Preparing Questions Use the 5Ws and H to organize your questions Generate a list of as many questions as you can possibly think of Multiple Who? and What?

Open-Ended Questions Open-ended questions ask for an opinion or interpretation from your source. They require your source to expand on basic info. “It’s all in the follow through”:  Follow-up with questions like “Why?”

Yes-No Questions Not good to ask in an interview Generate only “yes-no” answers—this gives you nothing as the reporter Yes-No Open-Ended Did you sign the bill?Why did you sign the bill?

Were your questions open or closed? Look over your questions Underline any questions that would have resulted in a “yes” or “no” answer Underline any questions that would have resulted in a ONE WORD answer  Believe it or not, those are also “closed questions”

Interviewing 101 Before: good research, prepare good questions During: use a tape recorder (w/permission), but do not rely on it— TAKE GOOD NOTES (abbreviate) End: confirm spelling of name, title….

Interviewing 101 End: confirm where you can reach them and when if you have ???  Who else can I talk to about this?  Why is that person a good source? After: write up your notes ASAP  Be thorough and date them  Keep them on file

Interviewing 101 Be a good observer: record details about  surroundings (clean desk, travel pictures)  mannerisms (talk w/hands, smiling, frowning)

1) Review and Modify Questions Look over questions Questions marked with a *(star) are those that could have been answered with research  Next to the question write where you could have found this info  AVOID search engines (No Google, Bing, etc)

2) Review and Modify Questions Underlined questions indicated those that were “closed questions” Rewrite those into OPEN-ENDED questions  Example: Do you like sitting on my desk?  Rewritten: How do enjoy spending your time?

3) Review and Modify Questions Choose one question that you believe would have generated a FOLLOW-UP question Write a follow-up question  Example: How do enjoy spending your time?  Follow-up: What is it about surfing the internet that you enjoy Hint: This question will require you to think a bit about what the answer would be to the first question

Supporting Info Write one question you could ask of your SECONDARY SOURCE  Example: (Earbuds) What is your favorite song to listen to? Don’t forget the rules of questions  Open-ended  Should draw an opinion of some sort

HOMEWORK On a separate sheet of paper, write the following:  Your name  Grade  Age  Schedule  Extra Curricular Activities Tomorrow we conduct classmate interviews, you will be partnered with someone