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
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
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
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
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
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