Throughout my time as a journalist, both in school and the working world, I’ve covered a broad range of topics — politics, the military, agriculture, community events, campus news, you name it. In the process I’ve had to interview countless numbers of people, both public figures and private citizens.
Some of those interviews went extremely well while others tanked completely. A small number produced lasting contacts, others were simply strangers on the street. A few were unforgettable moments in my life, others were dismissed the very next day. Along the way, however, each has taught me a little bit more about the art of interviewing. I feel like it’s something I’ve gotten pretty good at, whether it be something quick and fun, or deep and serious. I’ve gathered a small collection of tips I feel could be of use to my fellow writers, journalists or students.
- Learn to appreciate silence. Far too many interviewers have a tendency to push their own thoughts and opinions into an interview. After your subject finishes with their answer, stay quiet for a couple of beats. Look them straight in the eyes, if you have to. While this silence will be uncomfortable for the interviewee it will, in many cases, encourage them to “fill the void” and elaborate further.
- Know your subject matter. This is so important, it bears repeating. Know your subject matter, inside and out. If you don’t, and try to fake it, your ignorance will come through in the interview. Your subject will feel like their time is being wasted and you aren’t very interested in what they have to say. Nobody expects you to be an expert (otherwise, why would you be interviewing them in the first place?) but they will expect you to have at least a rudimentary grasp of the subject you are questioning them about.
- Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. If you don’t understand something your subject has said, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify themselves. It will show your interest in the subject matter and will ensure you walk out with a clear understanding of your topic. The key to effectively interviewing someone is humility.
- Don’t rely on technology. Batteries die and tape recorders fail. The only fail-safe (beyond water or fire damage) system for recording an interview is handwritten notes. Purchase a palm-sized notepad and learn to hold it and your tape recorder in the same hand while you write. This is a good way to make sure you will always have a copy of the interview in case your tape gets hosed. That said…
- Be accurate. Always be 100% accurate in your usage of quotes and information. Note, I didn’t say ’some of the time’ or ‘as much as possible’, I said ‘always’. No one like to be misquoted and doing so will quickly destroy your credibility.
- Get to the point, fast. Time is valuable and everyone hates to feel like theirs is being wasted. With the exception of the occasional, off-the-cuff aside, you should have all of your questions prepared in advance. Having them in a logical order is also a good idea, it ensures things don’t get too far off-track. This isn’t to say spontaneity is a bad thing, but every house (and interview) needs a good foundation.
- Know who you are interviewing. If you are heading out to interview a farmer, don’t show up in a tie and dress shoes. On the flip side, don’t wear jeans to interview a high-profile government figure. Know your audience, know your subject, and act accordingly. However, don’t patronize people. Be authentic. If you wear jeans and a t-shirt to interview a farmer, do so because you have a genuine interest in getting down and dirty to learn about them and their job. At the same time, wear a tie and dress shoes to interview a politician because you are interested in presenting a clean and professional appearance to someone who expects nothing less.
I’m considering making this a semi-regular feature on Ekonoline, offering tips and advice to those in the journalism profession. Stay tuned for more details.