This document provides guidance for conducting an audio interview for multimedia journalism. It outlines the three main phases of production: pre-production, production, and post-production. For pre-production, it recommends choosing a topic, finding sources, researching questions, and planning logistics. For production, it emphasizes recording in a quiet place, asking open-ended questions, avoiding crosstalk, and gathering sufficient content. For post-production, it involves writing, editing, and publishing the final piece.

1. PRODUCTION:
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 CHECKLIST:

4. AUDIO PRODUCTION
• NOW YOU’RE READY TO
RECORD THE ACTUAL
INTERVIEW – WE’RE MOVING
FORM THE PREPRODUCTION
PHASE INTO THE PRODUCTION
PHASE

5. AUDIO PRODUCTION ESSENTIALS
• QUALITY – does it sound good?
• If you start with subpar raw
material, you’ll have a subpar
product…
• QUANTITY – did I get enough
raw material?
• Do I have enough of what I need
for the story I’m producing?

6. AUDIO PRODUCTION ESSENTIALS
• QUALITY –
• Record in a quiet place!
• The subject is the main focus –
position your recording device so
that your subject has optimal
quality!

7. AUDIO PRODUCTION ESSENTIALS
• QUALITY –
• Remember the “How…”, “What…”
and “Can you tell me about…”
questions – they are often the best
ones!
• Do NOT cross-talk (talk at the same
time) - if you do, editing will be much
more difficult!

8. AUDIO PRODUCTION ESSENTIALS
• QUANTITY –
• Make sure you ask the questions
you prepared (at least 10)!
• Be certain you’re considering
follow-up questions!
• KNOW YOUR STORY SO YOU CAN
THINK ON THE FLY!

9. AUDIO PRODUCTION ESSENTIALS
• DETAILS –
• ONE INTERVIEW = ONE FILE
• Once you start recording, DON’T STOP
THE RECORDING TO START OVER –
you’ll edit it down in post-production
• Remember that you’ll be editing your
questions out of the final product so
make sure the answers are self-
contained as much as possible

10. AUDIO PRODUCTION
• DETAILS –
• Routinely check the device to make
sure it’s still recording
• When the interview is finished but
before you leave, REVIEW/CHECK
THE RECORDING TO MAKE SURE
IT’S THERE AND SOUNDS GOOD

11.  AUDIO PRODUCTION
• DETAILS –
• Keep your eye on time if limited
• State details on record; who you’re
interviewing, who you’re interviewing
them for, how to spell their name, their
title, etc.
• Last question of any interview should
always be some variation of “What else
would you like to talk about before we
wrap up?”

12. BLACKBOARD MATERIAL:
Ira Glass on Radio Stories
ASSIGNMENT: RAW AUDIO
INTERVIEW

13. AUDIO PRODUCTION
• SUBMIT/UPLOAD
ENTIRE RAW
INTERVIEW FILE ON
BLACKBOARD BY DUE
DATE!