1. Interviewing
A guide for backpack
and other journalists
1

2. He who asks
is a fool for 5
minutes. He
who doesn’t
ask is a fool
forever.
2

3. Interviewing is part
of a three-step process
• Interviewing
– Gets raw material for stories
• Editing/Honing
– Strengthens material
• Cropping/Cutting
– Shapes final stories
3

4. Like all backpack
journalism, interviewing
is the same as in regular
journalism -- but
different.
4

5. Focus the interview
• Ask lots of questions
– You need lots of raw material
• Choose an angle
– Pick a focus for your project
• Explore a subject further
– That’s why you need lots of raw
material
5

6. Interviewing
• Key to success for a good
backpack or print journalist.
• Two main parts
– Asking good questions
– LISTENING!!!!
6

7. Interviewing
• Steps in the process (before
interview)
– Identifying the story topic and angle
– Identifying the source(s)
– Background research
• Don’t interview people for
facts, interview for reactions
7

8. Interviewing
• Steps in the process (before
interview)
– Identifying the story topic and angle
– Identifying the source(s)
– Background research
• Don’t interview people for
facts, interview for reactions – especially
on camera
8

9. Information Search
• Questions for before the interview.
– How much time do I have to track
down information?
– What do I need to know?
– How will I use this information?
– Who is the audience for this
information?
These are the questions your team
needs to answer soon
9

10. Interviewing
• Story types and interviewing
– News story
• Subject focused
• People are secondary
– Profile
• People focused
• Other topics are secondary
– Investigative story
• Need to know both
10

11. Interviewing
• News stories
– Time to research is usually short
– Clips, other writers are good
background sources
– Rapport with regular sources for your
beat will serve you well
• They know you so they’ll talk with you
11

12. Interviewing
• Profiles -- vital to character-driven
backpack journalists
– Background information
• Basics: age, education, etc.
• Know their works, their achievements
• Know their subjects
• Know their hobbies, if possible
• Dress to match
• Interview friends, family, etc.
• “Shadow” them, if possible
12

13. Interviewing
• Investigative stories
– Adversarial relationship?
– Know the answers to the questions
you ask
– Start with people on the fringes and
work your way in to the main source
– Get as much evidence as possible
ahead of time
13

14. Interviewing
The way you ask a question
• Signals the response you expect
• Can reveal your own point of view on the
issue
• May block a response
–“Are you still cheating on exams.”
Ask people questions they can
answer
14

15. Interviewing
• Use open-ended questions
– Questions that require more than a
“yes” or “no” answer
– You want questions that draw visual
responses (especially important for
video)
– Work from general to specific
• These questions are less direct and less
threatening
15

16. Interviewing
• Closed-ended questions
– Asking a specific question to get a
specific answer
– Plan when to ask these questions
and who you are going to ask
– Keep asking until your source gives
you an adequate response or tells
you where to find the information
16

17. Interviewing
• Rapport
– The relationship between the
reporter and the source
• Critical to the success of the interview
– Look for commonalities with your
subject
• Make them feel comfortable with you
17

18. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• Establishing a rapport
– Look around the interview space for
• Photos of family
• Pets
• Signs of their religious background
– Talk about something you see
• Gets subjects at ease
Also comes in handy when filming “B roll”
18

19. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• Setting up the interview
– Work with the subject, but suggest a time
– Estimate how long you will need
• Be prepared if it goes longer
– Set the place
• Interviewee’s space? (puts them at ease)
• Neutral territory
– Be cautious of noise -- especially important in filming
– Privacy issues?
– Possible return for more information
– Call/e-mail back to check accuracy
19

20. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• What to bring
– What about a recorder for print? Camera?
• Backpack journalists rely on equipment
• Don’t count on it working. Have a plan
if it fails
– Notebook choices for notes
– Writing instruments (at least 2 pencils)
20

21. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• What to bring
– What about a recorder for print? Camera?
• Backpack journalists rely on equipment
• Don’t count on it working. Have a plan
if it fails
– Notebook choices for notes
– Writing instruments (at least 2 pencils)
• What not to bring
– Cell phone (Turn it off; it’s distracting)
– Chewing Gum (it looks unprofessional)
21

22. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• List of questions
– Write out the main questions you
want to ask
– DO NOT write them on your notebook
with space after each one for answer
– Maybe just a list of main points
Write answers even if taping or filming
22

23. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• Start with the easy questions
– Good time to confirm spelling of
name (don’t ask this if there is a
sign or nameplate)
– Title
• These can change from published
material you found in research
– Other basic info if you have
questions
23

24. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• Ask the general questions first
• LISTEN to their answers
– They will frequently answer more
than one of your questions at a time.
• If their answers lead you to a
better story, just keep filming or
writing and follow the new thread
24

25. Interviewing nuts and bolts
• Empathy is important
-- Why are you talking with this
person
• Silence is helpful
• Non-verbal cues
• Body language
• Look them in the eye
25

26. Interviewing and accuracy
• No one wants to be misquoted
• Here’s where taping interviews helps
• No good reporter wants to misquote a
source
• Arrange for a possible call back to
check accuracy of quotes, fill in any
blanks
– Call back even if you really don’t need to
– Send an email or note thanking source for
their time
26

27. Interviewing
• At the interview’s conclusion, ask:
– Is there anything that I haven’t asked that
I should have?
– Anything else you’d like to add?
– Give them your contact information
(telephone or email)
• Review your notes (flip through)
• Put the pen away. Open your ears
• Tell them when the story may appear
or where they’ll find it on the Internet
27

28. Backpack Journalist
Interviewing
• It’s different because of the
multimedia needs
• Use small talk to put people at
ease, then set up a camera with the
subject miked
• Film the entire interview taking note of
vital answers
• Then pick up the camera and change
perspective while you ask questions
again.
28

29. Backpack Journalist
Interviewing
• Then shoot other scenes in the
room (details), or the reason for
the interview. You want detail
shots when you already have
enough for a story.
• In the editing process, you can
move visuals around or add
others.
29

30. Your assignment now
• Pair off, interview each other.
• Write a one-page profile of your
team member.
• List the B-roll footage you’ll
shoot (the details), and what
questions you want to ask for
reaction shots. You’re not going
to do the filming, but I want to
know what you would shoot and
ask. 30