Interviewing lesson plan
Do your homework
1) Know as much as you can about your subject.
-- Clip searches
-- Questions of other interviewees
2) Know why you are interviewing them.
3) Make a list of key questions in advance whenever possible, but don't use it a script.
-- Clip searches
-- Questions of other interviewees
2) Know why you are interviewing them.
-- Talk over the focus of your story with your editor beforehand
3) Make a list of key questions in advance whenever possible, but don't use it a script.
-- Exercise: Develop a list of questions for two sources from press release (First-Day Attendance at All-Time High.)
1) Clearly identify yourself as a journalist
2) Make sure your subject knows you're doing an interview for publication
3) Do not misrepresent yourself
4) Do not agree to conduct parts of an interview "off the record."
5) Explain that your publication's policy is that all sources are named.
2) Make sure your subject knows you're doing an interview for publication
3) Do not misrepresent yourself
4) Do not agree to conduct parts of an interview "off the record."
5) Explain that your publication's policy is that all sources are named.
-- credibility of named vs. unnamed sources
6) Do not interject your opinions and don't allow yourself to become
the subject of the interview.
First things first
1) Establish a rapport with your subject before launching into your
questions
2) Leave most of the talking to your subject.
3) Begin with the basics. Who? What? Why? When? How much?
4) Mine for details
5) Ask open-ended questions
-- Discussion and examples of rewording yes/no questions
2) Leave most of the talking to your subject.
3) Begin with the basics. Who? What? Why? When? How much?
4) Mine for details
--Who else?
--What else?
--Why not?
-- How do you know?
--What else?
--Why not?
-- How do you know?
5) Ask open-ended questions
-- Discussion and examples of rewording yes/no questions
6) Ask for examples. "Can you give me some examples of what kind of complaints you've received? Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'improvements'?"
7) Listen carefully to make sure you are getting an answer to the question you asked.
-- Be polite, but do not allow your subject to dodge questions. Ask the same question in another way.
8) Repeat answers back in your own words to be sure you are getting
an accurate impression. "So you are saying that no one asked you
about the report at the meeting?"
Wrapping up1) Get the details that will back up sensitive information. "Who else
was in the room when he said that?"
2) Ask about records that may be available to back up the story. "Was there any report made of the complaint? Who would have a copy?"
3) Listen for good quotes. Listen for good anecdotes. Try to draw out the details without too much interruption.
4) Take good notes. Transcribe them as soon as you can, marking key quotes and rewriting portions that may be hard to interpret when the interview is no longer fresh in your mind.
5) Before ending an interview, ask if there is anything you have forgotten to ask. "Is there anything you would like to add?" or "What am I forgetting to ask?"
6) Ask your subject for the names and numbers of other potential sources. "Is there anyone else I should talk to?" "Do you know how I can reach them?"
7) Make absolutely sure that you have your interviewee's name spelled correctly and have noted their e-mail address as well as work, home and cell phone numbers
Exercise: Putting it all together2) Ask about records that may be available to back up the story. "Was there any report made of the complaint? Who would have a copy?"
3) Listen for good quotes. Listen for good anecdotes. Try to draw out the details without too much interruption.
4) Take good notes. Transcribe them as soon as you can, marking key quotes and rewriting portions that may be hard to interpret when the interview is no longer fresh in your mind.
5) Before ending an interview, ask if there is anything you have forgotten to ask. "Is there anything you would like to add?" or "What am I forgetting to ask?"
6) Ask your subject for the names and numbers of other potential sources. "Is there anyone else I should talk to?" "Do you know how I can reach them?"
7) Make absolutely sure that you have your interviewee's name spelled correctly and have noted their e-mail address as well as work, home and cell phone numbers
Interview a police spokesperson, a nursing
supervisor and a neighbor to mine the details of a deadly domestic
dispute