Interviewing Ms. Anderson

Listening: The Most Important Aspect of Interviewing Listening is NOT an inherent task. It is learned. To listen – to truly listen – means you actually have to understand the words that are coming out of someone’s mouth. You have to respond. You have to ask questions that showed you listened. You need to be empathetic and sometimes even conspiratorial. You need to give eye contact. You have to at least appear interested. Above all, the person you are talking to needs to know that you will keep this information in the highest regard.

Tips Pretend the person you are talking to is that special someone. Give the person the same attention you would give to the object of your affection (with tasteful reason). Respond as intently as you would if the object of your affection were talking to you.

The Ease of Interviewing Interviewing is not as easy as it sounds. Good journalists still have some hoops to jump through to do it right.

Five Steps of Interviewing (OH, NO! This is WAY too much work!)

Step 1: Preparation It is important to know about a topic before you go in to talk to a real, living, breathing person about aforementioned topic. Preparation may be as simple as going on the internet; however, research does not always have to be via the internet or extensive. Sometimes you just need the basics. You need enough research to speak intelligently and knowledgeably about your topic in front of your source. You have a responsibility to convey clear, articulate stories to your readers.

List of Questions Many of your questions should stem directly from your research. Your list of questions should help you keep your source focused. Your questions help you run the show. It is your responsibility to come prepared with questions. Your questions should be legible. Your questions should be on one page when possible. Questions should solicit answers that you can then use in your story. Your questions should lead to quotes that can stand alone. Try to start questions with “How” or “Why” or “Describe” or “Explain” DO NOT ALLOW YOUR QUESTIONS TO DISTRACT FROM YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.

Why? Typical interviews do not follow a direct format. Your questions are a guideline. You may skip around your interview questions as the interview dictates. By keeping your questions to one page you will help prevent annoying pauses in the conversation caused by frantically flipping through the pages. Your source needs to stay on topic or the information is irrelevant and the interview becomes useless. Starting with how and why solicit better responses. Bad answers come from bad questions

Setting Up the Interview People dislike being caught off guard. It is rude to just show up and start asking questions. By setting up an interview, you are allowing your source to gather information to provide you with. It should be set up at a time and place that is convenient for your source. NOT YOU! You should provide your source with a general angle your story is taking at this time.

Face-to-Face is Best More personal Provides valuable observations Ensures ability to get follow up information If you absolutely can not do face-to-face, let the person know how you will be interviewing them. Ex. “via phone” “via email”

Step Two: Pre-Interview Checklist Attire dress appropriately for the interview Look respectable NO HOLES in your clothes No clothing you do not want to see your teachers wear Materials List of questions Notepad Two writing utensils Recording device if possible Arrive EARLY At least five minutes early Provides good observations

Step 3: The Interview Start with the list and then move beyond Actions speak louder with words Eye contact Truly listen Listen Quotes that express opinions

Step 4: Wrapping it up Final questions Verify your quotes Is there anything else that I haven’t asked that you feel readers should know? Verify your quotes Check what the person has told you Leave the door open End on a good note Say thank you Helps you end on a good note

Step 5: Sifting Through the Info Go through your notes Follow-up questions File your notes