This document provides guidance for conducting an audio interview in three stages: pre-production, production, and post-production. In pre-production, the topics, sources, questions, and logistics are planned. Key details to consider include the interview subject, story, questions, date, and location of the interview. Good questions are open-ended and avoid bias, while being concise at under 15 words. Students should prepare at least 10 questions and anticipate follow-ups. The production stage is the actual recording of the interview. In post-production, the audio is written, edited, and published.

1. PREPRODUCTION:
AUDIO INTERVIEW
multimedia journalism

2. PREPRODUCTION
Choose topic, find sources, research,
prep questions, all the logistics
PRODUCTION
Actual interview/shooting
POST-PRODUCTION
Writing, editing, polishing and
publishing

3.  WHO is your interview subject?
 WHAT is the specific story you are going to
interview this person about? WHAT are your
questions?
 WHEN are you going to interview this person?
 WHERE are you going to interview this
person?
 WHY are you going to interview this person?
What makes this story interesting,
newsworthy, and worth reporting on?
AUDIO INTERVIEW PREPRODUCTION

4.  "Do you feel that the Giants will come out of this slump?" is
a yes or no question - a better way to ask it could be
 "What do you think it's going to take for the Giants to come
out of this slump?“
 ***
 “When you were a little girl, what did you envision your
career would be?”
 Great place to start, literally at the beginning and pointed
directly towards the point of the interview (Emily
Compagno’s multiple careers)
QUESTION EXAMPLES

5.  "How would Hustlers relate to real life struggles right now?”
 I wasn’t sure whose real-life struggles were being referred to
– Jennifer Lopez or the women portrayed in the film.
 ***
 “Do you have any artists featured on your new album? If so
who can we expect?”
 I'd combine these into a "what guest artists can we expect to
hear on the album?"
 And a good follow-up could be "Why did you choose these
specific people?"
QUESTION EXAMPLES

6.  "Did you ever think you would be an All-Star?”
 is a yes or no question - a better way to ask it could be
 "What did being an All-Star mean to you before you were
one?“
 ***
 “Did you ever feel star-struck or out of your depths at any of
the events?
 is a yes or no question - a better way to ask it could be
 "What's it like to see people you really admire at these
events?"
QUESTION EXAMPLES

7.  "You are known to be very calm and collected, and the roles
you play are some of the coolest characters ever, would you
describe yourself as a method actor or are you yourself when
you play these roles?” (Keanu Reeves)
 The question is rather long and leads him into only two
choices - how about this:
 "How does 'the method' impact your acting?“
 But have follow-up questions like, “How are you like John
Wick in real life?” or “How does your normal approach to life
inform your acting?” at the ready…
QUESTION EXAMPLES

8.  What do you think about this question for
Lebron James:
 "How does it feel to be called "The King"
despite losing 5 championships?”
 Any alternative ways to ask it?
QUESTION EXAMPLES

9.  You are to pick a realistic subject to record for
an audio interview exercise, explain your
reasoning, and list at least 10 questions for
them as per class guidelines.
 It makes perfect sense for your subject to be
related to your SEMESTER PROJECT but it
doesn't have to be for the purposes of this
exercise.
 You do NOT need to do/record the actual
interview yet - this is pre-production work!
AUDIO INTERVIEW PREPRODUCTION

10.  Prepare at least 10 questions following class guidelines:
• Ask open-ended questions – DON’T ask simple "yes" or "no"
questions!
• Do NOT ask biased or leading questions
• Don’t be afraid to ask “dumb” questions:
• Ask short questions - NO question should be over 10-15 words long
• Don’t forget to prepare/plan for/anticipate follow up questions
• Do plenty of research on your subject ahead of time and write more
questions than you think you’ll need!
• Your last question should always be, “What else would you like to
talk about before we wrap up?” OR “What else is going on you’d like
to tell me about?”
AUDIO INTERVIEW PREPRODUCTION

11. DO NOT RECORD THE
ACTUAL AUDIO INTERVIEW
YET!
(unless you have to due to scheduling)
AUDIO INTERVIEW PREPRODUCTION