Interviewing

This will be you

Adapted from “What Questions Do We Ask” by Carol Hallenbeck, Practical Ideas For Teaching Journalism

Journalists Ask Questions

• What is the team going to do to get ready for the big game, Coach?

• Why did the school board make that decision, Sir?

• How do you think this new program will benefit the French Department, Mrs. Trager?

Open-Ended Question Openers

• What do you think…• Why do you think…• How do you feel about…

Before the Interview

• Make an appointment in advance• Introduce yourself…Thank you• Shake hands• Look him/her in the eye• Begin the interview

The Opener

• A beginning question or remark to start the interview in a non-threatening manner

• Comment on the weather • Comment on something in the office • Comment on something of interest to the

interviewee

First Step Question

• Address the topic of the interviewo Reporter: “When I made the appointment, I

said that I wanted to ask your about the preparations the Trivia Team is making for Saturday’s competition. Would you tell me exactly what your are doing?”

Qualifier Question

• How qualified is the source?• Reporter: “Mrs. Biblioteca, how many

years have you been the adviser?”

Routine Factual Questions

• Ask the basics…• The Who, What, Why, When, Where, and

How information• What is trivia, who are the members, etc.

Numerical Questions

• Numerical questions provide statistical information

• How many years has the school competed? How many times has the school won?

In-depth Questions

G-O-S-S-E-Y

G is for Goals

• Why do we have a trivia team?• What are the goals of the club?

O is for Obstacles…

• That stand in the way o Who are your greatest rivals?o Who has a good chance to beat you?o Why is this so?

S is for Solutions

• What are you doing to keep from getting beaten?

• If Literature is a category which gives your team trouble, what is the team doing about that?

S is for Start

• How did the Trivia Club start?• When did you win the first championship?• When did you start the frosh/soph team?

E is for Evaluation

• Has this proved to be a worthwhile activity for the students?

• What exactly does it contribute to our school and the students who participate?

Y is for Why

• Why are all the schools all over the country getting into the Trivia Team business?

• Why does Kiwanis Club sponsor the club?• Why do students want to be in the club?

Most Critical: Listen

• Good interviews are good __________• Listen for the pearls and diamonds• Ask a “responder” to find out more

o Oh?o Really?o Would you explain what you mean?o Can you give me an example?

Solicit a Quote

• Return from the interview with quotes you can use from your storyo Would you tell me exactly how you would sum

up your years as Trivia Team adviser?o What do you tell your team members at the

start of a typical practice?

Quote Accurately

• Don’t be afraid to ask, “Do I have this down right?”

• NEVER promise to let anyone review your story in advance

Solicit Anecdotes

• Get the stories that show the source and cohorts in action

• Ask directly: “What is the most exciting moment your remember in a Trivia Team match?” Did any of your players do anything dumb? Was there a time when you substituted a player whose substitution won or lost the game?

Follow-up Questions

• Ask questions that you think of on the spur of the moment based on what the interviewee said.

Drop the Grenade

• Sometimes hard questions must be asked• Establish a rapport with the interviewee to

make him/her more willing to respond to the grenade

• Approach it carefullyo Some people have said that you have favorite

players who get to play all the time even though they are not as good as other players. How would you comment on this?

Recovering from the Grenade

• Reestablish the friendly relationship by asking neutral questionso Are you going to have breakfast together

before the match?

Conclude the Interview

• Thank you• Good luck wishes• Follow-up questions?