This document provides guidance on conducting effective interviews. It discusses the six basic questions reporters should ask (who, what, when, where, why, how) and emphasizes using open-ended questions to obtain detailed answers. Common interviewing mistakes are outlined, such as lack of preparation, vague questions, and failure to listen. Throughout, tips are given for proper interview etiquette and techniques to get high-quality responses from subjects. The overall message is that thorough research, clear questioning, and active listening are keys to successful interviews.

1. +
Questions & Interviews
What you should know

2. +
Types of Questions
6 Basic
2

3. +
The Basic Questions
There are six
basic
questions
You know
them
5W’s + H
3

4. +
Who
Who is involved?
Who does/did the
situation affect?
Who said so?
4

5. +
What
What is happening?
What did happen?
What are the
consequences?
What is different
about this?
What are the
choices?
5

6. +
When
When did or will
this happen?
When was this
discovered?
6

7. +
Where
Where did or will
this happen?
Where is someone?
7

8. +
Why
Why did this
happen or will it
happen?
8

9. +
How
How did it or will it
happen?
How much does it
cost?
How many people
does this affect?
How do you feel
about this?
9

10. +
How
How did it or will it
happen?
How much does it
cost?
How many people
does this affect?
How do you feel
about this?
10

11. +Write your own
You are going to interview a student on
Homecoming (fall)/Diversity Month/Week
(spring).
1. Write three questions on
different sticky notes.
2. Think about how much
information each
question will get.
3. Place the question under
the correct “sticky” sign.
11

12. +
Write your own
 Create 3 questions
 You are going to interview a student on
Homecoming (fall)/Diversity Month/Week (spring).
12

13. +Write your own
You are going to interview an administrator on
the changes to the school budget.
1. Write three questions
on different sticky
notes.
2. State who you are
asking
3. Think about how much
information each
question will get.
4. Place the question
under the correct
“sticky” sign.
13

14. +Write your own
 Create 3 questions
 You are going to interview an administrator on the
changes to the school budget.
14

15. +
Write your own
1. Which questions were written the most often?
2. Which questions will gather the most information?
15

16. +
Remember:
16

17. +
Question Basics
Things to be aware
17

18. +
Questions to Avoid
Close-ended Questions
 These can be
answered with a single
word or a short phrase.
 They’re often yes/no
questions.
 Limit the information
obtained
 Use only to verify what
is already known
18

19. +
Best questions to ask EVER
Open-ended
These questions will
always give you the
best answers.
These are questions
that cannot be simply
answered yes or no.
This forces the
respondent to give
you better, longer
answers.
19

20. +
Follow-up Questions
Remember to ask open-ended questions
 Ask questions like:
1. How long have you been playing (insert sport here)?
a) What has been the hardest (easiest) part of playing so long (short)?
b) What other sports do you play?
2. Where have you played? (could be music, sports, video games)
a) What is the most interesting place you have played?
3. What was your hardest (easiest) homework assignment or project?
a) Why was it hard (easy)?
b) How did you overcome the difficult part?
c) What was your final grade on the homework / project?
20

21. +
Write your own
Remember:
These are the 6 basic questions.
21

22. +
Basic Question Strategies
Things to always do
22

23. +
Questions to always ask when
interviewing
1. Name & it’s spelling
2. Age, Class standing (if
appropriate)
3. Title / Position
4. Address (in real world)
5. How to get a hold of them
for follow-up (phone
number, e-mail)
6. 5 W’s & H of situation
23

24. +
Basic Questioning Strategies
1. Meet the respondent:
icebreaker conversation
2. Ask first serious question
3. Proceed to the heart of the
interview
4. Ask "bomb" question if
necessary
 Bomb questions are those
that are potentially
sensitive or embarrassing.
1. Recovery from bomb
question
2. Conclude interview
24

25. +
Optional General Questions:
1. Hobbies
2. Sports
3. Likes/dislikes
4. Musical interests
5. Find out interesting
fact that others don’t
know
6. Make person
interesting, someone
others want to read
about
25

26. +
The Interview
 What to do
 How to act
26

27. +Interviewing 1
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
I. Prepare
A. Define a purpose of the interview
B. Research story (person)
background
1. Look in the morgue
2. Check the library
3. Ask other sources (consult family,
friends, co-workers)
C. Make a list of questions (based on
research) and plan your strategy
D. Set up an interview with
appropriate person and to their
advantage
E. Dress appropriately
27

28. +
Interviewing 2
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
II. During the interview
A. Be on time!
B. Be polite
C. Listen non-judgmentally
D. Ask open-ended questions
E. Take notes using their phrases
and words
F. Make the person feel relaxed
G. Ask for clarification
28

29. +
Interviewing 3
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
29

30. +
Interviewing 4
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
II. During the interview
K. Be careful with off-the-record
comments. Try to avoid them, but
sometimes they can lead to
questions in another interview.
L. Listen to the responses. Your
ability to ask good follow-up
questions will usually determine
how good your interview will be.
30

31. +
Interviewing 5
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
III. Ending and after the
interview
A. Ask if there is anything they
would like to add
B. Look over your notes for any
additional questions &
clarification.
C. Go over all quotes with the
respondent to check for
accuracy
GG
31

32. +
Interviewing 6
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
III. Ending and after the interview
D. Obtain all the information you
think you will need before
concluding the interview, but be
sure to ask if you can contact your
respondent again if necessary.
E. Ask for phone number in case
you need further clarification, but
do not promise to let subject
check story.
F. Thank the interviewee for his/her
time.
32

33. +
Interviewing 7
Good reporters always do the following before,
during, and after an interview:
IV. After the interview
A. Write story immediately
after interview (within
hour)
B. Double check facts (call
source if needed)
33

34. +
Interviewing Problems
From Rob Milton
34

35. +
Common Interviewing Problems 1
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
1. Failure to define and
state the purpose of the
interview.
35

36. +
Common Interviewing Problems 2
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
2. Lack of preparation.
36

37. +
Common Interviewing Problems 3
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
3. Failure to probe behind
the answers.
37

38. +
Common Interviewing Problems 4
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
4. Vagueness
 Lack of concrete details.
 A word or phrase is said to
be vague if its meaning is
not clear in context.
38

39. +
Common Interviewing Problems 5
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
5. Carelessness in
appearance.
39

40. +
Common Interviewing Problems 6
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
6. Going into the interview
with a preconceived
notion versus…
 Not listening to respondent
is saying
 Not doing background
preparation.
40

41. +
Common Interviewing Problems 7
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
7. Convoluted or over-defined
questions.
 Instead ask precise,
probing questions.
41

42. +
Common Interviewing Problems 8
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
9. Insensitivity
42

43. +
Common Interviewing Problems 9
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
9. Failure to listen.
43

44. +Common Interviewing Problems 10
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
10. Laziness — the “what’s
new”
44

45. +Common Interviewing Problems 11
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
11. Filibustering
 This is when you talk too
much, and the
experiences of the
reporter, not the
respondent, predominate.
45

46. +
Common Interviewing Problems 12
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
12. Aimlessness
 Keep the interview on
track.
46

47. +
Common Interviewing Problems 13
What are some of the problems beginning reporters — and
even experienced reporters, at times — have?
12. Too many abstract instead
of concrete questions.
 Ideas or concepts with
no physical reference.
 Don’t try to “get inside
their head.”
47

48. +
Final Tips
Thing to remember
48

49. +
Final Interviewing Tips 1
1. Write from the heart
 Go out among subjects
 Don’t write as after thought
1. Take a variety of types of
quotes
2. Take a majority of quotes
direct quotes
 Personal stories
 Quotes are the story
 Get quotes live (be there or be
square)
49

50. +
Final Interviewing Tips 2
4. The Interview
 Ask open ended
questions
 Engage respondent
in icebreaking
questions to start
 Take time
 Regard personal
space
 Listen for details
50

51. +
Don’t Forget!
51

52. 52