Technique of interviewing

One of the hardest skills

for a young reporter to
master is interviewing.
It takes preparation and
persistence to conduct
a good interview.
Following are some
steps that can help
individuals excel in the
skill of interviewing.

2
 2. Be clear about the purpose of the
interview -
I - Location, You should know why you are doing the
Pace and interview at this particular time and
what you want out of it.
Mode.
Your purpose can be -
1. For information - you interview
experts, politicians and leaders.
2. For opinion - you interview the 3. Decide ahead of time about the
general public or a person of direction and pace of the interview-
power for their opinions on an
1.Understand the way the issue. This means you need to go prepared
interviewee works - 3. Person on the street - you with a set of questions, even though
interview common man to get a you may allow for flexibility and
If you are talking to a film certain openness. Is this interview
personality, you should know how on the street response to an
issue/event. about eliciting hard facts from the
the film functions, and if you are source, or is it about understanding
talking to the Chairman of the 4. Profiles - you interview
prominent people to get a full how the person works? Do you need
Board of Control of Cricket in to take an aggressive or a friendly
India (BCCI), you should know scape perspective in order to
build their profile as the news tone? How friendly or antagonistic is
how the board functions and what the person towards you and towards
its role in regulating professional piece or feature piece.
the issue in question?
cricket is.

3
4. Plan the duration of the 6. Think about location -
interview - For an eyewitness account or a
How much time do you have at person-on-the-street interview,
hand? Is the source available for a location is self-evident, but when
leisurely chat or is it to be a quick you are interviewing a person to
talk between meetings? The write a profile or as a key source for
amount of time will determine the an article, you should think carefully
questions you ask and the rapidity about the location. That is if you
with which you decide your have a choice. Senior politicians and
follow-up. The shorter and more 5. Decide the mode of the interview - bureaucrats may assume that the
pointed the interview, the better interview will be in their offices, or
prepared you need to be, so that Will it be face to face, on the telephone, sometimes, in their homes.
you do not end up asking or by email? Will you be alone with the Celebrities may prefer hotels or
questions that could easily be person or will there be others involved, work locations. Ensure that the
answered from background including other reporters. Some people location allows you to talk
research. If the interview is with feel more comfortable with the distance comfortably and does not have any
an important person, the offered by the telephone, while others distractions.
questions should focus on aspects prefer the immediacy of face-to-face
of the issue that this person's interaction. The point is there is no
opinion or knowledge alone can reason to put off or cancel an interview
clarify. because a person is not available for a
face-to-face meeting; you should always
consider other options.
4
II - The 2. Broadening sequence -
questions 3. The quintamentional structure -
A , on the other hand, begins with
In some cases, reporters use a more
the source's own experience or
formal structure known as the
point of view, and then leads into
quintamentional structure—as the
how that relates to the issue in
name implies, it is a five-step process
general.
of drawing the source out.
For instance, a new vice chancellor
Example -
has been appointed to a university
1.Narrowing sequence - and you are assigned to interview Do you have the details of the train
When you follow a , narrowing him for a profile. Using the accident? (establishing knowledge)
sequence, you start with what broadening structure, you can begin How many people died, what do the
are known as 'grand tour' by asking questions that set the preliminary reports say? (establishing
questions that look at broad tone and make him feel level of knowledge)
areas and then gradually move comfortable—something about his
background. Then this gets sharper What went wrong in this case? (Does
to sharper and more pointed
and sharper, asking more and more the person have specific information
questions.
detailed questions about student he is willing to divulge?)
For example, you are and staffing policy, educational How is the Railway department
interviewing a prominent film philosophy, and so on. responding? (more specifics)
director, you would start by
taking their stance on the film Are you getting the required
industry and then move assistance from the Government?
towards their works and future (allowing the source to take a stand)
projects.
5
III - steps of Step 3: Read Over Your
conducting Research and Brainstorm a List
interviewing of 15 Questions
The more specific your questions Step 5: Be on Time
are, the better. And never ask Arrive at your interview with plenty
questions that can be answered of time to spare. If you’ve never been
Step 1: Research, Research, with a simple yes or no. Make to the place where your interview is
Research your interviewee talk. taking place, go early and scout it
out. There is nothing more
Then research some more. The Be sure to write all your
unprofessional than a reporter who
only way to come up with good questions down in a notebook,
is late.
questions is to know everything then practice asking them with a
You can also use the time you are
there is to know about your partner. Become very familiar
waiting to make notes about the
subject. with your questions before you
surroundings. You won’t remember
go into the interview.
details later, so write them down.

Step 4: Come Prepared

Step 2: Contact the Person You
Wish to Interview You will want to bring:
A pencil
Ask when a good time would be A notebook
to do the interview. Be polite. A list of good questions
Say "please" and "thank you." Try A recording device (always ask
to set up the interview in person. permission before recording an
If this isn't possible, then set up a interview)
phone interview.
6
Step 6: Conduct Your Interview in an Organized, Timely
Manner Step 8: Review Your Research
During the interview: and Your Interview Notes
●Be courteous to your subject. Circle or highlight quotations
●Always take time to ask for an explanation about things that you think will be good for
you don't understand. your article. Now you're ready to
●Don’t be afraid of uncomfortable silences and pauses. begin writing.
●Let the interview take its natural course.
Step 7: Even If You Are Recording
●Look the person in the eye when asking questions.
an Interview, Take Notes
●Always listen carefully to the answers. Each answer could
lead to more questions or include an answer to a Don't try to write every word said.
question you haven’t asked yet. Don't ask a question that It will slow down the interview.
has already been answered. Your subject will know you Just take down the highlights. After
weren't listening and be insulted. the interview, while the details are
●Don't read through your questions one right after still fresh in your mind, write
another like you can't wait to be finished. Conduct your everything down you can
interview like a conversation. One question should lead remember about the person you
naturally into another. If you are LISTENING to the
interviewed. Don’t forget to make
answers this will come naturally.
note of the sounds in the
●Also, take notes on what the person looked like, what the
background. Take note of what was
person was wearing, where he or she sat. If the interview
is in an office, make notes of what is on the walls and on
happening around you. Write it all
the desk. The objects people surround themselves with down as soon as possible. At home,
hold important clues to their personalities. Ask about any expand your notes by following up
object that interests you. You’ll find some good stories. on things you learned in your
interview with more research.
7
Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
ananya.journalism@gmail.com