TIps for Journalist: How to Conduct an Interview
When writing a news item or anything in the form of traditional journalistic, non-fictional style, the real life interviews with the individuals involved is quite possibly the most important step in the entire development and production of the article. Even more important, perhaps than the actual article writing process itself. It is the accounts and opinions of persons on the varying sides of the issue at hand that allow the final piece of writing to be accurate and objective. It is the journalist’s duty to remain detached from the matter at hand enough so as to not take a side and end up with a biased piece of writing. At the same time, though, the journalist must strive to obtain the truth as it stands and acknowledging that people do not always speak honestly to reporters, they must ask strategic questions to the appropriate relevant individuals so as to allow the truth to unravel itself.
The interviewing process can be quite challenging, but the journalist must remember that there is, for the most part, only one shot to get the story and when they are there, speaking to the interviewee in person, they must be on the ball. Thus, the journalist must be prepared before beginning the official interview. Whether the interview takes place over the phone or face-to-face, it is amazing how fast time seems to fly. The journalist will in most cases get a little less than a half hour from the person and if they are really lucky (and usually, if the interviewee wants publicity) they might get 45 minutes. It all depends on the nature of the story that is to be written. Either way, the journalist would be wise to plan a loose outline of questions to ask for a very short interview and also have backup extra bonus questions to ask if the time carries on longer. There are few things that indicate amateur status more blatantly in the world of Journalism than a reporter who runs out of things to say before the interviewee does.
All stories and events have multiple angles from which one could view them. The journalist should brainstorm a number of these possibilities prior to the session and attempt to ask questions that would allow for as many of those aspects to be covered as possible. Some of the best pieces of writing are produced by writers who do not determine which way the article is going to go, in terms of good guy/bad guy, or positive/negative, or whatever is best applicable to the situation being written about, until all interviews have been completed and he or she sits down to write the article.
Besides obtaining a person’s undivided attention for a little bit of time, the journalist must also be able to pull off a quality interview. A successful interview would be one in which a remarkable story is unraveled and illustrated or a fascinating personality is discovered. A good journalist is one that can take any ordinary person off of the street and find a story in them. This is accomplished by experience of course, but really when it comes down to it the journalist must simply concentrate on being his or herself instead of a rigid professional interviewer. Most interviewers are under the false impression that they have to maintain a sense of authority in order to establish credibility with the interviewee and in order for the person to be somewhat scared into telling the truth. However, in many cases the opposite is true. If a journalist acts the way they would act around a group of fellow coworkers for instance, (coworkers that were also friends), the person being questioned will be more likely to feel comfortable enough to relax in front of the journalist and it is when a person is relaxed that their true personality is really able to shine through.
A journalist that can put someone at ease enough to express themselves in a way that many others have never seen them do is a gift that is often not only the ticket to a great article but also a wonderful reward for the journalist.
