Interviewing and

News Gathering Tips

By Laura Widmer
Associate Director
National Scholastic Press Association
Associated Collegiate Press
Interviewing

“Interviewing requires more than a

good ear for quotes. It’s a process,
like writing, that involves a series of
decisions and actions designed to get
the best possible information.”

(Chip Scanlan, “Reporting and Writing:

Basics for the 21st Century)
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Interviewing

“The success of the end product —

the story — is, to a great degree,
dependent on the questions a
reporter asks along the way. There’s a
premium on interviewing skills and
competency.”

(Bob Steele, Poynter)

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Four Principles

● Prepare carefully, familiarizing

yourself with as much background
as possible.
● Establish a relationship with the
source conducive to obtaining
information.
● Ask questions that are relevant to
the source and that induce the
source to talk.
● Listen and watch attentively. 4
Interviewing

● If you’re a good listener, you can be a

great interviewer.
● When all is said and done, an
interview is simply a purposeful
conversation.
● Interviewing is a social skill.
– You must be friendly, but aggressive.
– Polite, but probing.
– Sympathetic, but skeptical.
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Types of Interviews

● News

● Profile

● Investigative

● Broadcast

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Advantages/Disadvantages of Interviews

● In person

● By phone

● By email

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Interviewing Preparation

• When you get your assignment, you

should immediately determine your
sources.
• Take time to hone up on your subject or
the topic you’ll be discussing.
• Try to know almost as much as they do
about your subject or the topic you’ll be
discussing.
– Who are the experts?
– Who has the information you need?
• Make sure you interview sources who will
represent both sides of the story.
Interviewing preparation

1. Complete your research so you can ask

intelligent questions.

2. Take time, however short, to brush up on

your subject or the topic you’ll be
discussing.

3. Try to know almost as much as they do

about their subject, so it seems like
you’ll be chatting with your subject.
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Research the Topic

● Current information
● Past newspaper stories/morgue
● Google information (watch validity of
sources)
● Understand both sides of topic
● Primary sources
● Secondary sources
Interview Preparation

● Once you determine best source then

you should set up an in-person
interview.
– Don’t hide behind desk with phone
interviews.
– Try to avoid email interviews.
● Let them know your media outlet, topic
of interview, and amount of time needed.
● Prepare your questions and write them
down prior to interview.
● List questions in a logical flow.
● Dress appropriately. 11
The Questions

● Careful preparation should lead you to

a few themes for the interview, and
these hint to questions that can be
asked.
● But before the specific questions are
put to the interviewee, a few
housekeeping details usually are
should be attended to:
– Spelling of name (if needed), age,
education, job title and description,
research, family information, etc. 12
The Questions

● The housekeeping questions should

be your first questions because they
are nonthreatening and help to foster
a relaxed interview atmosphere.
● Once you have determined the
theme/angle of your story, write your
questions in a logical flow.
● Focus on open-ended questions.
● Save the tough questions for the 13
Essential Interview Gear

● Recorder (ask permission)

● Reporter’s notebook with your
questions
● Pen(s)
At the Interview

● Arrive early (5-10 minutes)

● Shake hand and introduce yourself
● Small talk (observation)
● Observe surroundings, decor,
mannerisms, dress, etc.
● Start with easy questions to ease into
interview
● Ask one question at a time
● Listen
● Make eye contact
At the Interview

● Take notes/take shorthand. You MUST take

notes, even if you have a recorder.
● If source didn’t understand question need to
ask it again or rephrase it
● If you didn’t understand answer rephrase
question and ask again or ask for
clarification.
● If you don’t understand what the
interviewee is saying ask for clarification.
– “Can you put that in terms that our readers will
understand?”
– “I want to make sure that I have this correct, can
you please explain that to me, again?”
Interview

● Ask if there is anything else source

would like to add.
● Ask when you can get back with them
if you have further questions.
Observations

● Observe and record the person’s

body language, mannerisms, dress,
physical features, distinctive
characteristics and interactions with
others.
● Observe and record the sights and
sounds of the surroundings. These
details paint a more vivid picture for
your audience and may reveal
something that is not being said. 18
Good Listeners are Great Reporters

● The good listener hears crucial quotes,

revealing slips of the tongue, the dialect
and diction of the source that sets him/
her apart.
● Listens for answers that prompt follow-
up questions.
● Let the subject talk. When reporters are
talking, no new information is being
acquired.
● Listen for inflection. Listen for emotion.
● Listen for what isn’t being said. 19
How to Handle…

● Off the record

● Like to read that before it runs

● Fact-checking

● Follow up
Note-Taking Tips

● As soon as a theme develops that you are

fairly sure will be in your story, put a letter
next to it.
● When another theme or idea develops, use
another letter to identify it. (A,B,C, etc.)
● As you go along, you should get an idea of
the lead theme or idea. Circle the letter that
identifies this theme or idea.
● Ask questions to develop this theme if
necessary.
● When writing, use the series of similarly
marked notes to structure the story. Follow
the rule: Like things together in copy.
After Interview

● Go through your notes and type

information
● Outline your story
● Determine focus of story/lead
● Write story while the information/
interview is fresh in your mind
– Enough sources?
– Missing information?
Usage of Quotes

● Quotes make stories more engaging

and more authentic.
● Adding quotes from your sources
adds emotions and personality to the
story.
● You can use direct, partial, dialogue
or paraphrase quotes in your story.
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Usage of Quotes

● Don’t bore readers with dull, obvious

quotes.
● Don’t rehash what a quote is saying.
● Avoid using a quote as the lead.
● Beware of monologues.
● It’s best not to mimic someone’s
dialect.
● Beware of foul language.
● Keep the quote in context. 24
Summary

Before the interview:

1. Know the subject
– Seek specific information
– Research the subject
– List the questions
2. Know the person
– Know biographical information
– Know the person’s expertise
regarding subject matter
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In Summary

3. Set up the interview

– Seek specific information
– Set the time at interviewee’s
convenience
– Length of time needed
– Possible return visits
4. Discuss arrangements
– Tape recorder?
– Photographer?
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In Summary

During the interview:

• When you arrive control the seating
arrangement
• Place recorder at optimum spot
• Warm up person briefly with small
talk
• Set the ground rules
– Everything on the record
– Everything attributable
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In Summary

● Use good interview techniques

– Open-ended questions

– Allow the person to think and to

speak; remember to pause

– Don’t have a threatening voice or

manner

– Control the flow but be flexible

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In Summary

● Take good notes

– Be unobtrusive
– Be thorough
● Use the tape recorder
– Assume it’s not working
– Note digital counter at important
parts

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In Summary

Before you leave the interview:

● Ask if there’s anything interviewee
wants to say
● Check facts — spellings, dates,
statistics, quotes
● Set time for rechecking facts,
quotes
● Discuss when and where interview
might appear
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In Summary

● After the interview

● Organize your notes immediately
● Craft a proper lead
● Write the coherent story
● Determine if both sides of story are
reflected
● Make sure you have enough sources
– Primary sources?
– Secondary sources?
● Check accuracy with interviewee 31
Contact information

Laura Widmer
CEO
Iowa State Daily Media Group
Iowa State University
108 Hamilton Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011
[email protected]
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