The document provides tips for conducting effective interviews from CNN experts. It recommends establishing trust with interview subjects, doing research without over-preparing questions, respecting who you're interviewing, listening intently without interrupting, asking open-ended questions, allowing silence for responses, rephrasing questions if needed, admitting what you don't know, controlling your own emotions, and inviting final thoughts at the end. The overall goal is to make interview subjects comfortable, gather rich information through thoughtful questioning and active listening, and get the full story.

1. The Art of Interview
From the Experts andVeterans of CNN

2. According to CNN:
•The stories you tell, whether in text form, by
way of video or through audio, are only as
good as the information you gather

3. Make the subject comfortable
• Before you start, try to establish a connection and level of trust with the
person you'll be interviewing
• Putting him or her at ease before the questioning begins can make a big
difference

4. Do your homework, but don't over think
• You and your audience will be best served if you have your head around the
issue and are ready to ask the tough questions
• Your basic curiosity should drive your questions
• Jot down some notes going in, key ideas you want to be sure to touch on,
but don't have a typed-out long list of questions.That'll only distract you

5. Respect who you're talking to
• If a guy on the street blurts out something that you think might put his
family in danger or cost him his job, for example, you may :
• (a) want to keep that out of your story, especially if it's not relevant to what
you're covering; or, if his words are connected to what you're doing
• (b) talk to him about what he's saying, make sure he's comfortable putting
those words out there or see if there's a way to incorporate his sentiments
without endangering him -- assuming he doesn't want to be endangered

6. Listen, listen, listen
• Listen and listen intently and do not cut the person you interview at the
height of him/her raising an important point
• Look at those you interview, show them you're engaged with a nod of the
head, your eyes, your smile when appropriate

7. Ask open-ended questions
• If you're looking for good quotes or meaty answers and descriptions, stay
away from questions that'll elicit one-word responses
• Say, for instance, that you're interviewing someone who witnessed a
disaster. Don't ask, "Were you scared? Did you run away?"
• The better questions would be along these lines: "What do you remember
seeing, feeling and thinking? What could you smell or hear?Tell me what
you did."

8. Allow for silences; don't interrupt
• Most people need some time to grapple with their thoughts and formulate
responses. It's on you to give them that space
• You don't know what memories or ideas are going through their minds, and if you
jump in too quickly, you might miss a gem
• By carefully watching the person you're talking to, you can see if someone's deep in
thought or ready to move on
• Another advantage to silences is that they can make people uncomfortable and
push them to speak.

9. Reword or re-ask, as necessary
• There may be a very important piece of information you're going after
• If the person you're interviewing doesn't answer the question the first time
around, you may have to rephrase it or come back to it later
• Don't hesitate to revisit what you need.

10. Admit what you don't know
• You can be as prepared as possible, but you can't pretend -- nor should you
pretend -- to know everything
• An expert will respect you more if you don't act like you are one yourself
• Someone who is a leader in his or her field, or someone who simply
observes a holiday you don't, is generally happy to explain what you and
others should know

11. Keep tabs on your own emotions
• There are times when interviews may move you to tears or near tears.You
are human
• But as a general rule, as hard as it may be, you should hold yourself
together.There are ways to show sympathy or empathy without falling
apart
• You can cry all you want once you walk out the door, but in that space, your
job is to let them say and feel what they need to say and feel

12. Invite the last word
• A great way to end interviews is to ask those you're speaking with if they
have anything else they'd like to add or if there's any question they wish you
or others in the media were asking
• An angle may exist that no one is touching.This is a good tool to get those
tips and can sometimes reveal the most useful material.