During the Interview
"It doesn't matter what the guy said if you can't read what you wrote. Don't write sloppy!"
– Cody Clawson, Sports Editor
Interview Assignment
When You Arrive
- Put the interviewee at ease by making light small-talk.
- Appropriate attempts at humor are good.
- Discover what he is comfortable talking about.
- Establish rapport.
- Demonstrate what you have in common with the interviewee.
Interviewing
- Do not sit directly in front of your interviewee unless you want him to feel uncomfortable!
- Sit to the side, so the person can make eye contact when and if they choose.
- Ask your questions.
- Follow-up questions are the key to success. You will only discover these in the natural moments of the interview as your subject answers questions. Be ready to think on your feet!
- If a question reveals interesting or surprising information, pursue it with follow-up questions.
- Don't be afraid to ask for explanations to clarify your understanding.
- Ask for more details for unclear responses.
- Don't let bias interfere with what the interviewee is trying to say.
- Observe how your interviewee looks and acts. What is there about the body language that adds to your understanding?
- Allow your interviewee time to think.
- Let the interviewee speak! Do not interrupt! LISTEN more than you talk!
- Do not be threatening in voice or actions.
- Be in charge of the flow of the interview, but be flexible.
- At times, let your silence encourage the interviewee to continue.
- At the end, ask if there is anything you forgot to ask, or if the interviewee would like to add anything else.
Note-Taking
- Be accurate.
- Develop a consistent short-hand.
- Use a notebook with pages that are easy to turn.
- Make sure to have several writing utensils.
- Leave wide margins so you can make notes in them later.
- Be thorough.
- Ask for statements to be repeated if you missed parts. You may not hear everything. Admit this to the person rather than taking incorrect notes.
- Ask for the spellings of names and places.
- Take hand-written notes, even if you are tape-recording.
Before You Leave
- Set a time to recheck facts and quotes.
- Discuss when the interview will appear and where it will be published.
The Missouri Group. Telling the Story:The Convergence of Print, Broadcast and Online Media. Bedford St. Martin's. Boston:2010. 43-68.
Image reproduced with permission from Cody Clawson.
Logo reproduced with permission from Liberty Public Schools.
Created by Lori Oyler, Adviser, loyler@liberty.k12.mo.us, July 22, 2011
