Interviewing Tips

Slide 1: Interviewing JOURN 305 Chapter 10

Slide 2: Interviewing  Your goal is to get accurate and interesting information for your story  There are several strategies available to get your subject to talk

Slide 3: Building Trust  A source that trusts you will be more likely to open up  To establish trust, you may need to spend some time with the subjects  If you are on a “beat,” then you may want to socially network with your most important recurring sources

Slide 4: Building Trust  Remember that your sources are human beings  They will respond better to you if you have a good track record with them  Honesty and empathy always work!

Slide 5: Funnel Interview  Save your toughest questions for last  This enables time to build trust with your interview subject

Slide 6: Trustbusters  “Burning” a source with bad ink  Misquoting a source  Identifying an anonymous source  Misrepresenting your intentions  Failure to answer any concerns/questions that the source may have before the interview

Slide 7: Trustbusters  Your first encounter with the source is critical since the first impression is made  In most cases, you will want to put the source at ease  However, in some serious interviews, you will deliberately want to use the tension to your advantage

Slide 8: Tension Strategy  When you know a subject is being deceitful, it might be good to keep the tension so that the subject’s true motives are more transparent

Slide 9: Inverted Funnel  Tough, specific questions first – Use if you have little time – Use if you need to nail down an answer

Slide 10: Preparing for the Interview  Preparation strategies for the interview will vary  What kind of interview are you doing? – News – Profile/Feature – Investigative – Broadcast TV/radio

Slide 11: The News Story  Use all available resources to research the history of the subject covered  Go direct to the source – but don’t expect them to tell you the “whole story”  An “off the record” insider may help you get a fresh perspective

Slide 12: “Off the Record”  Hotly debated topic  Is it ethical to gather info “off the record”?  Should everything be fair game?  Can you use information gained “off the record” without directly quoting the information or source?

Slide 13: Sources  Some sources will want to remain anonymous  If you agree to keep their identity private, it is unethical to reveal their names to anyone – Exceptions:  Government subpoena – If it is determined to jeopardize the national security or is essential is solving a crime  Publication policy – Due to some problems with reporter integrity, some publications are now requiring reporters to share the identity of the anonymous reporter with their supervising editor

Slide 14: Use Caution  Be aware of sources that have an axe to grind  Do they have an agenda?  Are they telling the truth?  Are they reliable? – Substance abuse = suspicion  Do they really have a direct connection to the news event? – Be careful of “hearsay”

Slide 15: Off the Record  If a subject tries to go “off the record,” you should try to get them to stay “on the record”  Usually they will still talk  Tell them you need the attribution for the sake of credibility  Or…you can return to the topic in an “on the record” question later in the interview to get your quote

Slide 16: Common Problems for Beginners  Beginning reporters often are afraid to ask probing questions that might anger the subject – You are there to get the story right above all else  They also get manipulated by the subjects who give a lot of sanitized, “canned” responses – Style but no substance

Slide 17: Dealing with Jerks  It will happen…often.  Don’t take it personally.  If they question your motives, then let reassure them that you intend to be fair and accurate in your reporting  Keep calm  Explain why the answer is necessary for the story

Slide 18: Uncomfortable Interviews  You may encounter an interview that is difficult to conduct due to the sensitivity of the subject  While personally uncomfortable, these often make for some of the best interviews  Example: – Interviewing someone who has just been laid off – Interviewing someone who has just had a death in the family – Interviewing someone who has been accused of a crime – Interviewing someone who is defensive or hostile

Slide 19: Uncomfortable Interviews  Remember that they are human, too  Behave appropriately  There is a fine line between being aggressive and obnoxious

Slide 20: The Rambling Interview  Some subjects ramble off subject  This may be unintentional, but sometimes it is a deliberate attempt to dodge a difficult question  Don’t be afraid to steer them back on track

Slide 21: Persistence Pays  When conducting an interview, make sure that your key questions are answered  If the subject does not know an answer, ask them who in the organization is available to respond  Many subjects will try to escape accountability through “double speak” and “passing the buck”

Slide 22: No Stone Left Unturned  When you write your story, you should have answers to the key questions  If you don’t, then you should include an explanation for the absence of clear information – Example: “A spokesperson declined to comment on…” – Example: “The cause of the fire was still undetermined, according to…” – Example: “The company isn’t disclosing the amount paid for the acquisition. However, the financial terms are expected to be revealed in tomorrow’s filing with the SEC.”

Slide 23: Expert Jargon  Sometimes you will interview industry experts that use jargon that is unfamiliar to the general public  Try to get the expert to rephrase the information in clearer terms  At a minimum, make sure that you fully understand the jargon so that you can paraphrase correctly  Don’t be afraid to admit your ignorance!

Slide 24: Be Provocative  Aim for a provocative interview without being confrontational  You are there to get the story – not start a fight!

Slide 25: Feature/Profile Story  Go beyond the main subject interview to get the “full story”  Talk to friends and family members to help get a diverse perspective on the subject interviewed  Your writing style will likely include observations and details that would not be appropriate in a “news” report/article

Slide 26: Investigative Reporting  Be prepared to spend a longer amount of time preparing this piece  You must strategize in how you ask your questions, as well as WHO to ask questions and WHEN to ask them  Example: At a certain point, your inquiries can result in actions that impede or prevent further investigation

Slide 27: Broadcast Interviews  When you conduct an interview for TV or radio, the goal is to get a sound bite that can be extracted and edited into a larger news piece

Slide 28: Types of Broadcast Interviews  News Interviews – Gather info on a news event – Usually quick and to-the-point  Feature Interviews – Designed to entertain – May be more in-depth

Slide 29: Interview Editing  While some interviews are done live, many are pre-recorded and edited  In the editing room, the actual interview may be chopped down considerably to include only significant soundbites

Slide 30: Sound Bite – Sometimes unintentional but often strategized – Memorable and catchy quote – Quick, focused – Captures the essence of your point – May be funny “one liner”

Slide 31: Infamous Sound Bites  “I never had sex with that woman”  “Can’t we all just get along?”  “Read my lips: no new taxes!”

Slide 32: Pre-Interview  Not all announcers use the pre-interview  It can serve as a good rehearsal for both host and guest  Can help to focus topic of discussion  Danger of losing spontaneity

Slide 33: Altered States  There are some things that will alter the “mood” of the interview subject  Example: – The physical presence of a camera or tape recorder may cause the subject to “perform” or be more careful in considering what they reveal

Slide 34: Your Secret Weapon  Here is one of the best kept secrets for interviewing: – Some of the best information comes in the casual conversation that follows the “interview” – After the camera or tape has stopped and the pen is put away, the subject may begin to converse casually and reveal better information than given previously

Slide 35: Interview Skills  Don’t talk too much if the interview is for broadcast media  Keep the guest and topic on focus  Don’t ask overly complex questions – If necessary, then make sure that you explain complexities in easy to understand language  Listen! – Adjust questions when necessary

Slide 36: Interview Skills  Ask Follow-up Questions  Offer non-verbal feedback to responses  Ask for clarification, if necessary

Slide 37: Types of Questions  Closed ended questions – Answered with simple “yes” or “no” – Example: “Do you like your job?” – Generally makes a bad interview  Open ended questions – Provides opportunity for broad answers – Example: “What do you like about your job?”

Slide 38: Interview Tips  Avoid leading questions – “You don’t like George Bush, do you?”  Avoid obvious questions – “Were you unhappy when your movie flopped?”  If the interview is being broadcast, plan your transitions from topic to topic ahead of time

Slide 39: Keep Your Cool  Maintain control of the interview  Know when and how to interrupt to keep guest from rambling  Maintain a neutral/objective view

Slide 40: Build to the Point  Save your most volatile questions for the end of the interview  Begin with easier questions to establish a connection and trust with your guest

Slide 41: Prepare Your Questions  Troubleshoot your interview before it occurs  Plan questions ahead of time  You probably won’t use all of your questions, but the process is helpful in establishing a focus to your actual interview

Slide 42: Accuracy Check  Inevitably, you will encounter a need to clarify a quote or note that you have taken during the interview  It is not uncommon to “fact check” with the subject by following up directly with them after the conclusion of the interview  In some cases, a quote is read back to confirm that it is accurate …or to ask for clarification

Slide 43: Fact Checking  Be cautious when a subject presents a statistic as if it is fact  Be prepared to confirm all statistics with an independent source  Statistics are often manipulated

Slide 44: Using Quotes  Only use a quote if it conveys something that can’t be communicated better in your own words  Often a better strategy is paraphrasing what the subject has told you

Slide 45: Using Quotes  Use quote if it is particularly articulate or powerful in the wording  Most people do not speak in a way that translates well into a quote

Slide 46: Using Quotes  The more significant the interviewee is, the more likely a reader will be interested  Make sure that the quote is used to add a unique angle or credibility to the story

Slide 47: Quoting Accurately  If the grammar is poor, then some reporters will “clean up” the quote  This practice varies by publication  HOWEVER, if the interview was witnessed by multiple media outlets (example: press conference) then you should leave the quotes alone

Slide 48: (sic)  If you want to be cautious, then you can use the “(sic)” notation in your printed quote to notate a grammatical error made by your subject

Slide 49: Observation  Sometimes a key part of the story lies in what is observed, rather than spoken  Pay attention to the body language or non- verbal cues from your subject