Feature and Magazine Feature and Magazine WritingWriting

Chapter 5Chapter 5

KINDS OF INTERVIEWSKINDS OF INTERVIEWS

Personal: Good quotes, accurate description, Personal: Good quotes, accurate description, insight into issues/ individualsinsight into issues/ individuals

Telephone: Dis. – Can’t see interviewee, can’t Telephone: Dis. – Can’t see interviewee, can’t describe him/her, can’t establish rapport. Work describe him/her, can’t establish rapport. Work on phone manners, verbal reinforcementon phone manners, verbal reinforcement

Group: Better than no interview at all. Everyone Group: Better than no interview at all. Everyone may want to answer, or answers may be tainted. may want to answer, or answers may be tainted. Code notebook, ascertain quotes, voice record, Code notebook, ascertain quotes, voice record, arrange to make contact laterarrange to make contact later

KINDS OF INTERVIEWSKINDS OF INTERVIEWS

Extended: Extended: Electronic: If unable to reach source other ways. Electronic: If unable to reach source other ways.

Written list of questions. Be professional. Write Written list of questions. Be professional. Write like a business letter. Links to your published like a business letter. Links to your published work. Use subject heading. work. Use subject heading.

Disad – can’t establish rapport, source can ignore Disad – can’t establish rapport, source can ignore or be unresponsive to your questions, no or be unresponsive to your questions, no opportunity for clarification or elaborationopportunity for clarification or elaboration

INTERVIEW GUIDELINEINTERVIEW GUIDELINE

Asking for …Many people are wary of the Asking for …Many people are wary of the press. Explain quickly and clearly who you press. Explain quickly and clearly who you are, why you want the interview, how much are, why you want the interview, how much time will you need. Ask for enough time to time will you need. Ask for enough time to complete the interview. Allow more time in complete the interview. Allow more time in your schedule in case interview goes beyond. your schedule in case interview goes beyond. Remember no one (but govt.) owes you an Remember no one (but govt.) owes you an interview. But interviewee can benefit too.interview. But interviewee can benefit too.

INTERVIEW GUIDELINEINTERVIEW GUIDELINE

When and Where … Delays in scheduling When and Where … Delays in scheduling interviews are common. Use common friend. interviews are common. Use common friend. Will not want to offend. See you as reliable. If Will not want to offend. See you as reliable. If reluctant, find out what’s bothering. Correct it if reluctant, find out what’s bothering. Correct it if possible. Ex: send story sample. Plan locationpossible. Ex: send story sample. Plan location

How to Dress … Appropriate to interviewHow to Dress … Appropriate to interview How to Research … Find/ Verify information How to Research … Find/ Verify information

INTERVIEW GUIDELINEINTERVIEW GUIDELINE

How to Present Yourself … make friends. First How to Present Yourself … make friends. First four minutes sets tone for rest. Sizing you up. four minutes sets tone for rest. Sizing you up.

Appearance: Dress appropriately. Appearance: Dress appropriately. Body language (friendly head nod, threatening Body language (friendly head nod, threatening

blank stare, lazy slouch, alert posture)blank stare, lazy slouch, alert posture) Voice/ word choice: Soften voice, good grammarVoice/ word choice: Soften voice, good grammar

CARNEGIE’S TECHNIQUESCARNEGIE’S TECHNIQUES

Be interested in your subjectBe interested in your subject Smile while you talk and listenSmile while you talk and listen Use interviewee’s name correctlyUse interviewee’s name correctly Be a good listenerBe a good listener Talk in terms of the other person’s interests and Talk in terms of the other person’s interests and

with the other person’s terminologywith the other person’s terminology Make interviewee feel important, pay attentionMake interviewee feel important, pay attention

CONDUCTING INTERVIEWCONDUCTING INTERVIEW

Open-Ended: Allows respondent broad range Open-Ended: Allows respondent broad range in answer. If question is unfocused, answer is in answer. If question is unfocused, answer is uselessuseless

Closed Question: Asks for a more narrow replyClosed Question: Asks for a more narrow reply Probe Question: Asks for amplification of an Probe Question: Asks for amplification of an

unresponsive or incomplete answerunresponsive or incomplete answer Mirror Question: By repeating part of the Mirror Question: By repeating part of the

answer, forces respondent to amplify answer. answer, forces respondent to amplify answer. Gives you time to finish writing original Gives you time to finish writing original answer. Slows down respondent. Clarify quoteanswer. Slows down respondent. Clarify quote

CONDUCTING INTERVIEWCONDUCTING INTERVIEW

Yes/ No Question: Useless for feature writer Yes/ No Question: Useless for feature writer Leading Question: Considered unethicalLeading Question: Considered unethical Loaded Question: Designed to antagonize an Loaded Question: Designed to antagonize an

interviewee, is equally manipulativeinterviewee, is equally manipulative Hypothetical Query: Allows interviewee to Hypothetical Query: Allows interviewee to

think about and comment on coming think about and comment on coming developmentdevelopment

ROBERTSTON’S TIPSROBERTSTON’S TIPS

Writer’s personality sets tone for interviewWriter’s personality sets tone for interview Keep your ego out of the interviewKeep your ego out of the interview Listen: don’t keep talkingListen: don’t keep talking Don’t interrupt if answer is not going way you Don’t interrupt if answer is not going way you

want, unless you don’t have time, must endwant, unless you don’t have time, must end Assume nothing. For example, spellingAssume nothing. For example, spelling Don’t be ashamed to say: “I don’t understand”Don’t be ashamed to say: “I don’t understand” Ask difficult questions at end, easy ones firstAsk difficult questions at end, easy ones first

ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINEATTRIBUTION GUIDELINE

For-Direct Quotation: Whatever subject tells For-Direct Quotation: Whatever subject tells you can be used as a direct quote, a partial you can be used as a direct quote, a partial quote or an indirect quote. Unless advised.quote or an indirect quote. Unless advised.

Not-For-Direct Quotation: Identify source and Not-For-Direct Quotation: Identify source and repeat quote, but not within quotation markrepeat quote, but not within quotation mark

Not-For-Attribution Quotation: Forces you to Not-For-Attribution Quotation: Forces you to connect a quote to a generalized source. Also connect a quote to a generalized source. Also called background attribution, is less crediblecalled background attribution, is less credible

ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINEATTRIBUTION GUIDELINE

Deep Background: Often refers to information Deep Background: Often refers to information given to a writer on the basis that it not be given to a writer on the basis that it not be attributed to the source in any way. Usually attributed to the source in any way. Usually writer can get another source to corroborate writer can get another source to corroborate background information, then can attribute background information, then can attribute that information to the new source. that information to the new source.

Off-The-Record: Worst category. Where you Off-The-Record: Worst category. Where you promise not to reveal either information or promise not to reveal either information or source. Some subjects demand to see storysource. Some subjects demand to see story

GATHERING MATERIALGATHERING MATERIAL

Note-Taking Tips: even if you are a careful Note-Taking Tips: even if you are a careful listener, will miss 50% of what speaker says. listener, will miss 50% of what speaker says. Use correct tools: good pad, some shorthand. Use correct tools: good pad, some shorthand. Be inconspicuous as possible. Be inconspicuous as possible.

Tape-recorder technique: use good one. Small. Tape-recorder technique: use good one. Small. Recording indicator. Check working. Counter Recording indicator. Check working. Counter cues to locate specific segments. Warning cues to locate specific segments. Warning signal if out of memory or tape. Also take signal if out of memory or tape. Also take notes if recording on phone, obey state lawnotes if recording on phone, obey state law

GATHERING MATERIALGATHERING MATERIAL

Fixing Quotes: What do you do when you Fixing Quotes: What do you do when you encounter poor grammar, off-color remarks or encounter poor grammar, off-color remarks or inaccuracies? Should that go into the story?inaccuracies? Should that go into the story?

Grammar: depends on person/ language/story Grammar: depends on person/ language/story (commercial fur trapper or high school (commercial fur trapper or high school teacher?). teacher?).

Off-color: leave it out. Leave out inaccurate if Off-color: leave it out. Leave out inaccurate if you can’t go back to source you can’t go back to source

GATHERING MATERIALGATHERING MATERIAL

Description: Keen observation. Sometimes Description: Keen observation. Sometimes participation. Physical descriptions can be risky. participation. Physical descriptions can be risky. Can also be described by other people. Style of Can also be described by other people. Style of language can provide description. Mental language can provide description. Mental processes (through extensive interviews). How processes (through extensive interviews). How he responds to situations too. he responds to situations too.

Closing the Session: if no time, explain time has Closing the Session: if no time, explain time has been up and you have another appointment. Say been up and you have another appointment. Say you may have questions, contact lateryou may have questions, contact later

TipsTips

Act naturallyAct naturally Be preparedBe prepared Have questions ready. Have questions ready. Be ready to ask questions not prepared forBe ready to ask questions not prepared for Appointments/ spontaneousAppointments/ spontaneous Look up/ take notesLook up/ take notes Spell names/ pronounce names correctlySpell names/ pronounce names correctly

TipsTips

Double-check datesDouble-check dates Start with easy questions firstStart with easy questions first Ask open-ended questions laterAsk open-ended questions later Restrict yes/ no questionsRestrict yes/ no questions Don’t argue over answersDon’t argue over answers Do not promise first draftDo not promise first draft Ask for a follow-up phone call/emailAsk for a follow-up phone call/email Look around you (book shelves)Look around you (book shelves)

TipsTips

Observe non-verbalsObserve non-verbals Check some statements with other sourcesCheck some statements with other sources

Sample questionsSample questions

What’s so important about … ?What’s so important about … ? How does this (…) affect …?How does this (…) affect …? What effect does this (…) have on …?What effect does this (…) have on …? How do you feel about …?How do you feel about …? What was the most important/ defining What was the most important/ defining

moment of your life?moment of your life? How would you complete the following How would you complete the following

sentence …?ssentence …?s

G.O.S.SG.O.S.S

G: What are/have been your goals …?G: What are/have been your goals …? O: What obstacles have you faced/ overcome? O: What obstacles have you faced/ overcome? S: What are your greatest accomplishments?S: What are your greatest accomplishments? S: Have the interviewee go back to …S: Have the interviewee go back to …

Important questionsImportant questions

Can you explain that to me?Can you explain that to me? How do you feel about …?How do you feel about …? Can you be more specific?Can you be more specific? Please explain that in layman’s termsPlease explain that in layman’s terms Have I missed anything?Have I missed anything? Is there anything you would like to add?Is there anything you would like to add? Can you please repeat that?Can you please repeat that?