Interviewing techniques

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Interviewing techniques

• Chapter 7

2

• In the chapter intro,
• What tough lesson did Barbara Walsh learn when
  interviewing convicted murderer William R. Horton
  Jr.?
• Why is this lesson important for anyone
  conducting interviews?

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Gathering Details

• Reporters need details, details, details
• The key to a good news story is having the
  details
• How do you get the details for a story?
• Ask police
• Observer
• Talk to witnesses
• In order to get details you need to have good
  questions.
• Think beyond the surface elements and get creative

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Sensitivity

• This can help get more info from a source
• Public officials/Celebrities
• Used to speaking to media often expected to talk
• Private individuals
• May need a more sensitive approach in order to
  open up
• Even if you identify yourself as a member of media

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Listening and note taking

• Listening is very important when interviewing
• Unless your memory is impeccable
• Its best to use a notepad or recorder
• Good listening skills will help when
• Writing quotes
• Showing interest in subject

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Pros Cons of tape recorders

• Cons of tape recorders
• Mechanical failure
• Too much reliance on tapes
• Can inhibit source
• Cant pick up observations
• A smile, nervous tic, mannerisms, etc

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Pros Cons of tape recorders

• Pros of tape recorders
• Help with exact wording of quotes
• Preserve details of controversial topic
• Tape recording etiquette
• Ask 1-2 questions prior to asking about recorder
• Place recorder to the side (not in plain site)

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Listening tips

• Things to help improve listening skills
• Focus on the Hear and now
• Practice conversational listening
• Practice critical listening
• Be quite
• Be responsive
• Listen with your eyes
• Review more on Page 112

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Note taking tips

• Some tips to help you take good notes
• Be prepared
• Concentrate
• Use key words
• Develop a shorthand
• Request repetition
• Double check
• More on page 114

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Tips for interviewers

• Consider your mission
• The purpose for the interview
• Evaluate the information
• For accuracy, fairness, newsworthiness, etc
• Look for facts, good quotes, substantiation
• Answers to the 5 Ws

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Planning the interview

• Identify your focus
• Research the background
• Identify your goals
• Plan your questions
• Request the interview
• Dress appropriately
• Arrive on time

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Conducting the interview

• Types of questions
• Open ended
• Used to get details and quotes
• Closed ended
• Used to get brief specific answers
• Keep questions brief
• Use simple, one question sentences

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Conducting the interview

• The dumb factor
• Ask questions even if you might know the answer
• You can get the answer in sources words
• Being thorough isnt being dumb
• Use Icebreakers
• Plan your first question
• Put questions in non-threatening order
• Ask basic follow up questions
• More on page 119-121

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Reporting for visuals

• Be aware of potential graphics when reporting
• Gather items for graphics dept.
• Maps, brochures, written material, etc
• Locations
• Chronology of events
• Statistics
• Highlights

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E-Mail interviews

• Advantages
• Gives source time to think about responses
• Saves you from taking notes
• Disadvantages
• Prevents
• Spontaneity
• Good follow up questions
• Observing sources non-verbals

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Tips for e-mail interviews

• Limit the number of questions
• Try not to go past 5
• Clarify your purpose
• Verify the sources full name and title
• Limit your follow up e-mail messages
• Attribute to e-mail

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The GOAL Method (interviews)

• A concept to help frame questions for a variety
  of stories
• Features, profiles, programs issues
• G-Goals
• Motivation for accomplishments/programs
• O-Obstacles
• Challenges person/program faced
• A-Achievements
• How were goals reached
• L-Logistics
• Steps to get to this point (background)

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Telephone interviews

• Guidelines for telephone interviews
• Identification
• Icebreakers
• Length of questions
• Clarification
• Specifics
• Chronology

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Interviewing problems

• Source says this is Off the record
• What do you do?
• Source says Dont use my name
• What do you do?
• The source starts to cry during interview
• What do you do?
• Source end the interview before youre done
• What do you do?
• Source gives you false information during
  interview
• What do you do?