Interviews By Michael Flax

Interviewing Before an interview _____________________________ Background information _____________________________________ ___________________________________

No background check example Reporter: I’m supposed to ask you about your plans for student council. Smiley: Okay. Reporter: What can you tell me about your plans? Smiley: Well, big things will be happening. Reporter: How do you plan to implement those things? Smiley: The student council will work very hard to make the changes.

Interviewing No pertinent or usable information has been exchanged. Make sure you go into an interview with ________________________, or the ______________.

If Researched First Reporter: Joan, how do you plan to fight against student suspensions and expulsions, as you promised in your campaign? Smiley: Actually, that will be tough at first. More important is my promise to have more student input in school board policies. With that input, we can work toward stopping the suspensions.

Making the most of a Source By doing some simple research before an interview, a reporter can have enough background information to formulate questions that will bring out _______________________________ _______________________________ ____________________________

Get the answers you need Experienced reporters will sometimes ask questions to which they already know the answers. The story idea has already been designed.

Get the answers you need Any information in a story ___________________________. Getting a _____ from an interview can fill that void of a source.

Get the answers you need Getting the information from a source also helps to __________ or ____________ information and establish the ______________________. It also helps to make sure you and your source have the ________________ and a ____________________ of your topic when you begin the interview.

Get the answers you need The more __________ you get to verify your information, the more _____________ your story is, and is viewed.

Preparing questions The standard news cues, known as the 5 Ws and an H _________

Cue Questions It is good to have ____ questions ready before an interview. There should be one for each of the 5 Ws and an H.

Avoid YES/NO Questions Just Say NO To YES/ NO

Phrase Clear Questions Keep it simple. Ask questions that are not lengthy and confusing to the source. (If you have to explain the question, it’s too long.)

Works Cited Schaffer, James; McCutheon, Randall; Stofer, Kathryn T. Journalism Matters. Gathering the News. Lincolnwood, Il Pg