Interviewing Tips

How The Pros Do It Katie Couric's Interview Advice Couric Interviews Sarah Palin Couric Interviews the Royals

What Did She Say? Do?

Kinds of Questions To Ask: Fact Finding/Close Ended: Basic Info, 5 W’s and H; elicit short respponses In-depth/Open Ended: Use good key words—discuss, explain, tell; produce best quotes and information Follow Ups: Verifying info, double check spellings

Who Are My Sources: Primary Source: Gather majority of information here, best source of direct quotes Secondary Sources: Provide extras, solid direct and indirect quotes and information Off The Record Sources: Simply FYI, no publishing –avoid these! Always verify sensitive info/critical facts with multiple informed sources

Who Are My Sources: Strive for a minimum of three sources in every story. 1)The main/key individual 2)An expert – to provide credibility and background. Usually an adult. 3)A back-up source to corroborate or confirm what your main source said. - OR - A contradictory source for an alternate point of view.

Skateboard Dude Research local hotspots for skateboarders, skateboarding tricks and skateboarders in the news. Before your interview prep, try reading articles that others have written about skateboarders. What did they ask?

Best Interview is ALWAYS Face-to-Face Other Options: Phone Skype, Google Hangout, FaceTime What are the pros and cons of each? Where To Interview

John Cusack: An Interview That Kicks Off to a Horrible Start What went wrong? What should the reporter have done before this interview?

Interview Tips - Before Learn everything you can about the person before you make contact. What is that person’s point of view. What is likely to motivate him/her. Don’t ask them for all the information. Instead, offer them something. “I’d like to fill you in on what I’ve learned.”

Interview Tips - Before Schedule your interview, but be prepared to conduct it instantly. Don’t misrepresent yourself or make promises you can’t keep. Don’t write out ?’s in advance. If you must, write topics/key words on a 3x5 card.

Interview Tips - Starting Ask your source to spell his/her first and last name. Start with an informal chat. Listen carefully.

Interview Tips - During Don’t be afraid to appear ignorant. A good journalist doesn’t have to know anything -- he/she just has to know how to learn. Don’t be judgmental. Treat her/him as if she/he’s a friend of someone you care about. Don’t interrupt. Use body language to give her/him positive feedback or to ask questions

Interview Tips - During Look her/him in the eyes & be interested in what she/he says. When he/she’s done talking, remain silent for at least 10 seconds. In that pause, let him/her feel the silence. Your best quotes/bites will come from this-- not from your questions. Take notes—even if you’re using a recorder!

Interview Tips - During Rephrase answers for clarification. Be ready to ask follow up responses. Listen to every word. Don’t worry about next question. If you’re listening, it will come to you. If you can’t think of a question, say, “Hmm. Interesting. Tell me more.”

Interview Tips – Asking ?s Ask your source to spell his/her first and last name.

Interview Tips – Asking ?s To get perfect quotes, don’t ask questions. Instead, make requests for complete thoughts: “Tell me about your education...”, “I’m curious about your involvement in...”, “Describe your reaction to...”, “Take me back to five minutes before it happened, set the scene and walk me through it.”

Interview Tips – Asking ?s Avoid saying the words who, what, when, where, why or how. Too often they result in answers that are narrow or that are not complete sentences. “Why did you do it?” “Because I wanted to help.” Better: “Tell me your reason for doing it.” “I was in that position when I lost my job so I wanted to help other people through their hard time.”

Interview Tips – Asking ?s Avoid saying the words who, what, when, where, why or how. Too often they result in answers that are narrow or that are not complete sentences. “Why did you do it?” “Because I wanted to help.” Better: “Tell me your reason for doing it.” “I was in that position when I lost my job so I wanted to help other people through their hard time.”

Interview Tips – Asking ?s No Fail Follow-Ups Why? Can you tell me more about that? Would you explain … How did you feel when that happened? What did you (or do you) think about … How did that happen?

Interview Tips – After Always ask her/him who else might be able to tell you more. Get contact information – an or cell phone number. When you can, tell them they did a good job. It will assure your future cooperation. Let them know when the story goes to print.

Interview Tips – After Explain you may call for follow up questions and to double-check quotes Fact checking is essential. You read back to check for accuracy – not to allow sources to change their story. If you can, call them up and thank her/him (or write a note and mail it to her/him).

Interview Tips – After As interview concludes, always ask: “Is there anything you’d like to add?” Or “Is there anything I missed or forgot to ask?”