1. Feature and Magazine Writing Chapter 5

2. KINDS OF INTERVIEWS Personal: Good quotes, accurate description, insight into issues/ individuals Personal: Good quotes, accurate description, insight into issues/ individuals Telephone: Dis. – Can’t see interviewee, can’t describe him/her, can’t establish rapport. Work on phone manners, verbal reinforcement Telephone: Dis. – Can’t see interviewee, can’t describe him/her, can’t establish rapport. Work on phone manners, verbal reinforcement Group: Better than no interview at all. Everyone may want to answer, or answers may be tainted. Code notebook, ascertain quotes, voice record, arrange to make contact later Group: Better than no interview at all. Everyone may want to answer, or answers may be tainted. Code notebook, ascertain quotes, voice record, arrange to make contact later

3. KINDS OF INTERVIEWS Extended: Extended: Electronic: If unable to reach source other ways. Written list of questions. Be professional. Write like a business letter. Links to your published work. Use subject heading. Electronic: If unable to reach source other ways. Written list of questions. Be professional. Write like a business letter. Links to your published work. Use subject heading. Disad – can’t establish rapport, source can ignore or be unresponsive to your questions, no opportunity for clarification or elaboration Disad – can’t establish rapport, source can ignore or be unresponsive to your questions, no opportunity for clarification or elaboration

4. INTERVIEW GUIDELINE Asking for …Many people are wary of the press. Explain quickly and clearly who you are, why you want the interview, how much time will you need. Ask for enough time to complete the interview. Allow more time in your schedule in case interview goes beyond. Remember no one (but govt.) owes you an interview. But interviewee can benefit too. Asking for …Many people are wary of the press. Explain quickly and clearly who you are, why you want the interview, how much time will you need. Ask for enough time to complete the interview. Allow more time in your schedule in case interview goes beyond. Remember no one (but govt.) owes you an interview. But interviewee can benefit too.

5. INTERVIEW GUIDELINE When and Where … Delays in scheduling interviews are common. Use common friend. Will not want to offend. See you as reliable. If reluctant, find out what’s bothering. Correct it if possible. Ex: send story sample. Plan location When and Where … Delays in scheduling interviews are common. Use common friend. Will not want to offend. See you as reliable. If reluctant, find out what’s bothering. Correct it if possible. Ex: send story sample. Plan location How to Dress … Appropriate to interview How to Dress … Appropriate to interview How to Research … Find/ Verify information How to Research … Find/ Verify information

6. INTERVIEW GUIDELINE How to Present Yourself … make friends. First four minutes sets tone for rest. Sizing you up. How to Present Yourself … make friends. First four minutes sets tone for rest. Sizing you up. Appearance: Dress appropriately. Appearance: Dress appropriately. Body language (friendly head nod, threatening blank stare, lazy slouch, alert posture) Body language (friendly head nod, threatening blank stare, lazy slouch, alert posture) Voice/ word choice: Soften voice, good grammar Voice/ word choice: Soften voice, good grammar

7. CARNEGIE’S TECHNIQUES Be interested in your subject Be interested in your subject Smile while you talk and listen Smile while you talk and listen Use interviewee’s name correctly Use interviewee’s name correctly Be a good listener Be a good listener Talk in terms of the other person’s interests and with the other person’s terminology Talk in terms of the other person’s interests and with the other person’s terminology Make interviewee feel important, pay attention Make interviewee feel important, pay attention

8. CONDUCTING INTERVIEW Open-Ended: Allows respondent broad range in answer. If question is unfocused, answer is useless Open-Ended: Allows respondent broad range in answer. If question is unfocused, answer is useless Closed Question: Asks for a more narrow reply Closed Question: Asks for a more narrow reply Probe Question: Asks for amplification of an unresponsive or incomplete answer Probe Question: Asks for amplification of an unresponsive or incomplete answer Mirror Question: By repeating part of the answer, forces respondent to amplify answer. Gives you time to finish writing original answer. Slows down respondent. Clarify quote Mirror Question: By repeating part of the answer, forces respondent to amplify answer. Gives you time to finish writing original answer. Slows down respondent. Clarify quote

9. CONDUCTING INTERVIEW Yes/ No Question: Useless for feature writer Yes/ No Question: Useless for feature writer Leading Question: Considered unethical Leading Question: Considered unethical Loaded Question: Designed to antagonize an interviewee, is equally manipulative Loaded Question: Designed to antagonize an interviewee, is equally manipulative Hypothetical Query: Allows interviewee to think about and comment on coming development Hypothetical Query: Allows interviewee to think about and comment on coming development

10. ROBERTSTON’S TIPS Writer’s personality sets tone for interview Writer’s personality sets tone for interview Keep your ego out of the interview Keep your ego out of the interview Listen: don’t keep talking Listen: don’t keep talking Don’t interrupt if answer is not going way you want, unless you don’t have time, must end Don’t interrupt if answer is not going way you want, unless you don’t have time, must end Assume nothing. For example, spelling Assume nothing. For example, spelling Don’t be ashamed to say: “I don’t understand” Don’t be ashamed to say: “I don’t understand” Ask difficult questions at end, easy ones first Ask difficult questions at end, easy ones first

11. ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINE For-Direct Quotation: Whatever subject tells you can be used as a direct quote, a partial quote or an indirect quote. Unless advised. For-Direct Quotation: Whatever subject tells you can be used as a direct quote, a partial quote or an indirect quote. Unless advised. Not-For-Direct Quotation: Identify source and repeat quote, but not within quotation mark Not-For-Direct Quotation: Identify source and repeat quote, but not within quotation mark Not-For-Attribution Quotation: Forces you to connect a quote to a generalized source. Also called background attribution, is less credible Not-For-Attribution Quotation: Forces you to connect a quote to a generalized source. Also called background attribution, is less credible

12. ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINE Deep Background: Often refers to information given to a writer on the basis that it not be attributed to the source in any way. Usually writer can get another source to corroborate background information, then can attribute that information to the new source. Deep Background: Often refers to information given to a writer on the basis that it not be attributed to the source in any way. Usually writer can get another source to corroborate background information, then can attribute that information to the new source. Off-The-Record: Worst category. Where you promise not to reveal either information or source. Some subjects demand to see story Off-The-Record: Worst category. Where you promise not to reveal either information or source. Some subjects demand to see story

13. GATHERING MATERIAL Note-Taking Tips: even if you are a careful listener, will miss 50% of what speaker says. Use correct tools: good pad, some shorthand. Be inconspicuous as possible. Note-Taking Tips: even if you are a careful listener, will miss 50% of what speaker says. Use correct tools: good pad, some shorthand. Be inconspicuous as possible. Tape-recorder technique: use good one. Small. Recording indicator. Check working. Counter cues to locate specific segments. Warning signal if out of memory or tape. Also take notes if recording on phone, obey state law Tape-recorder technique: use good one. Small. Recording indicator. Check working. Counter cues to locate specific segments. Warning signal if out of memory or tape. Also take notes if recording on phone, obey state law

14. GATHERING MATERIAL Fixing Quotes: What do you do when you encounter poor grammar, off-color remarks or inaccuracies? Should that go into the story? Fixing Quotes: What do you do when you encounter poor grammar, off-color remarks or inaccuracies? Should that go into the story? Grammar: depends on person/ language/story (commercial fur trapper or high school teacher?). Grammar: depends on person/ language/story (commercial fur trapper or high school teacher?). Off-color: leave it out. Leave out inaccurate if you can’t go back to source Off-color: leave it out. Leave out inaccurate if you can’t go back to source

15. GATHERING MATERIAL Description: Keen observation. Sometimes participation. Physical descriptions can be risky. Can also be described by other people. Style of language can provide description. Mental processes (through extensive interviews). How he responds to situations too. Description: Keen observation. Sometimes participation. Physical descriptions can be risky. Can also be described by other people. Style of language can provide description. Mental processes (through extensive interviews). How he responds to situations too. Closing the Session: if no time, explain time has been up and you have another appointment. Say you may have questions, contact later Closing the Session: if no time, explain time has been up and you have another appointment. Say you may have questions, contact later

16. Tips Act naturally Act naturally Be prepared Be prepared Have questions ready. Have questions ready. Be ready to ask questions not prepared for Be ready to ask questions not prepared for Appointments/ spontaneous Appointments/ spontaneous Look up/ take notes Look up/ take notes Spell names/ pronounce names correctly Spell names/ pronounce names correctly

17. Tips Double-check dates Double-check dates Start with easy questions first Start with easy questions first Ask open-ended questions later Ask open-ended questions later Restrict yes/ no questions Restrict yes/ no questions Don’t argue over answers Don’t argue over answers Do not promise first draft Do not promise first draft Ask for a follow-up phone call/email Ask for a follow-up phone call/email Look around you (book shelves) Look around you (book shelves)

18. Tips Observe non-verbals Observe non-verbals Check some statements with other sources Check some statements with other sources

19. Sample questions What’s so important about … ? What’s so important about … ? How does this (…) affect …? How does this (…) affect …? What effect does this (…) have on …? What effect does this (…) have on …? How do you feel about …? How do you feel about …? What was the most important/ defining moment of your life? What was the most important/ defining moment of your life? How would you complete the following sentence …?s How would you complete the following sentence …?s

20. G.O.S.S G: What are/have been your goals …? G: What are/have been your goals …? O: What obstacles have you faced/ overcome? O: What obstacles have you faced/ overcome? S: What are your greatest accomplishments? S: What are your greatest accomplishments? S: Have the interviewee go back to … S: Have the interviewee go back to …

21. Important questions Can you explain that to me? Can you explain that to me? How do you feel about …? How do you feel about …? Can you be more specific? Can you be more specific? Please explain that in layman’s terms Please explain that in layman’s terms Have I missed anything? Have I missed anything? Is there anything you would like to add? Is there anything you would like to add? Can you please repeat that? Can you please repeat that?