The Do’s and Don'ts of Interviews

Interviewing personalities for magazines, newspapers, television, and blogs can be

tricky. Whether you’re chatting to politicians, celebrities, comedians, writers,

musicians, victims, witness or citizens there are some basic rules.

What is Interview?

Interview is one of the most flexible methods of collecting information because it can be conducted in person (face to face), over telephone, television or even mail. And now of course through online video method.

Interview can be formal and informal conversation based on the situations and circumstances.

Interviews can be of facts, for opinions or both.

The interview can be one to one or can be multiplied on either side or both sides.

An interview enables to know events that a reporter has not been able to witness in person. Because the eyewitness to the event can offer the first hand account.

Skills for InterviewingThe skill of interviewing can be acquired over a period of time through experience.

A successful interview involves the factors of Planning, Persuasion, Perception and Persistence .

The interview process helps in introducing both the personalities, interviewee and interviewer.

The best option to conduct the interview at the subjects place and time mutually convenient.

Success of the interview depends upon the reporter/interviewer himself/herself interviewer's personality, personal appearance and mannerism.

A reporter has to be a diligent questioner and a careful listener.

A friendly detachment is the best attitude during the interview.

Steps for InterviewingDO ease them in

Ask how their journey was, what they’ve been up to, how long they’re in the UK for - some friendly small talk will help you to establish a positive rapport.

Usually a relaxed, happy interviewee is preferable. If you’re representing a publication they’re unlikely to know, (briefly) tell them a bit about it. With a phoner, especially one you’ve arranged yourself rather than through a PR, check it’s still a good time to chat.

“DO your research” or ‘Planning’

Planning is vital for interviewing. The source background, personality and achievements should be noted. Based on these, a provisional list of questions can be prepared.

At the Chances are they’re promoting a current film, show, book or exhibition - make damn sure you’ve actually seen it. Even better research around this. Familiarize yourself with their earlier work, their career trajectory, the landscape they work in, their contemporaries and rivals. This knowledge will give you confidence, helping you improvise on the day in response to their answers.

DON’T trust technology.

Dictaphone let’s down many times.

Should always carry spare batteries for your recording device or make sure it’s fully charged.

Glancing over at it from time to time to check its still recording is important. Having back-up tech in case it suddenly runs out of memory is safe.

And when interviewing someone super-famous, using more than one recorder just in case is suggested.

“DO ask questions they're not anticipating. 

And don't be scared to be personal. Try to ask those questions that you can’t easily find the answer to elsewhere. What you want from the limited time you have is to find out stuff you couldn’t by other means. Ideally, a scoop - something they haven’t already said to another publication. You can always fill in contextual or biographical information yourself. Plus the process is more fun for them if they aren’t answering the same question for the billionth time.

DO remember your reader.But when I’m doing an interview for another outlet, I might ask more about themselves or the ideas behind a particular project. I’ll assume the reader of a specialist photography magazine has greater knowledge of the medium than that of a mainstream newspaper. Be guided by your imagined reader and what they want to get from the piece. Information? Analysis? Amusement?

“DON’T be afraid to ask them to spell names,” 

 Same goes for places, dates and any other facts. Never, ever assume you’ll be able to catch it on the recording or find it online afterwards. I can assure you from experience this isn’t always the case.  

“DON’T be a fan girl or fan boy.

 ”It never ends well,” warns journalist.

 It’s very unprofessional.

To this end, “don’t ask for an autograph and also for a photograph”

“DO shut up when they're talking,” 

Partly, this will help with transcribing as it can be tricky to make out what they’re saying when you’re blathering over them. Also, it’s just plain politeness. Generally, let your interviewee finish what they’re saying, even if it’s slightly off-topic, as it might take you somewhere interesting and unexpected. That said, if they’re droning on about boring irrelevancies, wait for them to draw breath - they’ll have to eventually - and then leap in, ninja-style, with the next question. Persistence pays in such situation.

“DO think of follow-up questions,”

They might give one-word answers or answer multiple questions in one. They might, if you’re lucky, give you more time than you thought you’d have. Be ready to make the most of it. Likewise, figure out which are your most important questions so that if you're unlucky and have less time than you thought you would, you can priorities quickly.

“DO have a conversation,” 

You shouldn’t keep looking down to check your notebook. Read your questions or notes through a few times until you’ve committed them to memory - and then freestyle. “There are often plenty of surprises.”

DO ask them if they have anything to add. 

My very last question is always, “Was there anything you'd like to mention that I didn’t ask you about?” Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes they just tell you their website url. Sometimes they say something pointless. But sometimes you get that bonus nugget of copy gold which makes your whole interview shine.

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

News Interview

Survey Interview

Profile Interview

NEWS INTERVIEW

SURVEY INTERVIEW

PROFILE INTERVIEW

Types of Attribution •Direct Statement or On the record:  All statements are directly quotable and attributable, by name and title, to the person making the statement.Example: "The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran," said White House press secretary Jim Smith.Reporters should strive to have their sources speak on the record whenever possible. A named source gives a story greater credibility.Attributes on background :All statements are directly quotable, but can't be attributed by name or specific title to the person commenting.Example: "The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran," a White House spokesman said.

•On deep background :Anything that is said in the interview is usable but not in direct quotation and not for attribution. The reporter writes it on his or her own.Example: The U.S. has no plans to invade Iran.

•Off the Record : Information is for the reporter's use only and is not to be printed or made public in anyway. The information also is not to be taken to another source in hopes of getting confirmation.