Your first interviews

Taking great notes

Taking great notes

Without great notes, you can’t write a great story

Taking great notes

Without great notes, you can’t write a great story

It all starts with a notebook

Taking great notes

Without great notes, you can’t write a great story

It all starts with a notebook Then your own system of note

taking: shorthand, organization, pen, fact organization, etc.

Taking great notes

Without great notes, you can’t write a great story

It all starts with a notebook Then your own system of note

taking: shorthand, organization, pen, fact organization, etc.

Learn to write while looking at subject

Taking great notes

Without great notes, you can’t write a great story

It all starts with a notebook Then your own system of note

taking: shorthand, organization, pen, fact organization, etc.

Learn to write while looking at subject; talk about one thing and write about another;

Taking great notes

Without great notes, you can’t write a great story

It all starts with a notebook Then your own system of note

taking: shorthand, organization, pen, fact organization, etc.

Learn to write while looking at subject; talk about one thing and write about another; give yourself time to catch up

Notebook, recorder, computer? Pros and cons of each

Notebook

You gotta have one, always

Wait a minute, this is 2011 and you want me to get a notebook???

Notebook

You gotta have one, always Doesn’t fail, fits in back pocket or

purse, blends in well

Notebook

You gotta have one, always Doesn’t fail, fits in back pocket or

purse, blends in well It’s slow, only as good as your note-

taking system

Recorder

Use sparingly

Recorder

Use sparingly You get complete accuracy, have

proof if challenged, can post on web

Recorder

Use sparingly You get complete accuracy, have

proof if challenged, can post on web Causes subjects to clam up, can fail,

painful to transcribe

Computer

Indispensible, but usually limited to newsroom or your desktop

Computer

Indispensible, but usually limited to newsroom or your desktop

Really fast, accurate, easy to organize, can do email questions

Computer

Indispensible, but usually limited to newsroom or your desktop

Really fast, accurate, easy to organize, can do email questions

Stuck in one place, noisy, can fail

Journalism fail...

JIMMY'S WORLDJanet Cooke, Washington Post Staff Writer September 28, 1980

Jimmy is 8 years old and a third-generation heroin addict, a precocious little boy with sandy hair, velvety brown eyes and needle marks freckling the baby-smooth skin of his thin brown arms.

Interviewing

It’s a skill you’ve got to develop to be a great reporter

Interviewing

It’s a skill you’ve got to develop to be a great reporter

Interviewing is a social skill: friendly but aggressive; polite but probing; sympathetic but skeptical

Interviewing

It’s a skill you’ve got to develop to be a great reporter

Interviewing is a social skill: friendly but aggressive; polite but probing; sympathetic but skeptical

In person interview

Interviewing

It’s a skill you’ve got to develop to be a great reporter

Interviewing is a social skill: friendly but aggressive; polite but probing; sympathetic but skeptical

In person interview Phoner

Interviewing

It’s a skill you’ve got to develop to be a great reporter

Interviewing is a social skill: friendly but aggressive; polite but probing; sympathetic but skeptical

In person interview Phoner Email

Interviewing

It’s a skill you’ve got to develop to be a great reporter

Interviewing is a social skill: friendly but aggressive; polite but probing; sympathetic but skeptical

In person interview Phoner Email Scrum (lots of people on one

interviewee)

Setting up the interview

Homework

Setting up the interview

Homework Who are the sources and the best

way to reach them: live, phoner or email?

Setting up the interview

Homework Who are the sources and the best

way to reach them: live, phoner or email?

Ask if photos are allowed if needed

Prep for interview

Don’t waste people’s time on facts you should know: correct spelling of company name, politician’s background, etc.

Prep for interview

Don’t waste people’s time on facts you should know: correct spelling of company name, politician’s background, etc.

Write out questions or topics

Prep for interview

Don’t waste people’s time on facts you should know: correct spelling of company name, politician’s background, etc.

Write out questions or topics Dress appropriately for interview

During interview

If you’re relaxed, source will be relaxed

During interview

If you’re relaxed, source will be relaxed

You’re in charge

During interview

If you’re relaxed, source will be relaxed

You’re in charge Start with basics

During interview

If you’re relaxed, source will be relaxed

You’re in charge Start with basics Keep questions simple, rather than

multi-faceted

During interview

If you’re relaxed, source will be relaxed

You’re in charge Start with basics Keep questions simple, rather than

multi-faceted Ask open-ended questions! Avoid

those that can be answered “yes” or “no.”

During interview

If you’re relaxed, source will be relaxed

You’re in charge Start with basics Keep questions simple, rather than

multi-faceted Ask open-ended questions! Avoid

those that can be answered “yes” or “no.”

Be sure questions get answered, especially with politicians

During interview, deux

Rephrase questions if you don’t get what you want or it’s unclear

During interview, deux

Rephrase questions if you don’t get what you want or it’s unclear

Ask follow-ups: How do you know that? Can you give me an example? What is the thought behind that?

During interview, deux

Rephrase questions if you don’t get what you want or it’s unclear

Ask follow-ups: How do you know that? Can you give me an example? What is the thought behind that?

Be flexible, follow the twists and turns

During interview, deux

Rephrase questions if you don’t get what you want or it’s unclear

Ask follow-ups: How do you know that? Can you give me an example? What is the thought behind that?

Be flexible, follow the twists and turns

Note the “color” facts

Afterwards

Ask who else to contact

Afterwards

Ask who else to contact Ask if you can call back later for

more questions

Afterwards

Ask who else to contact Ask if you can call back later for

more questions Thank your source

Afterwards

Ask who else to contact Ask if you can call back later for

more questions Thank your source Review your notes soon to be sure

it’s all clear

On, off the record, on background Different sets of ground rules for

interviews

On, off the record, on background Different sets of ground rules for

interviews The vast majority of interviews are

“on the record”: everything is for publication

On, off the record, on background Different sets of ground rules for

interviews The vast majority of interviews are

“on the record”: everything is for publication

“Off the record”: information can’t be printed or used in any form

On, off the record, on background Different sets of ground rules for

interviews The vast majority of interviews are

“on the record”: everything is for publication

“Off the record”: information can’t be printed or used in any form

“On background”: can use stuff, but no attributi0n

On, off the record, on background Different sets of ground rules for

interviews The vast majority of interviews are

“on the record”: everything is for publication

“Off the record”: information can’t be printed or used in any form

“On background”: can use stuff, but no attributi0n

Make sure you and source agree on rules!

You’re going to break some news Mrs. Bowers is coming to be

interviewed

You’re going to break some news Mrs. Bowers is coming to be

interviewed We want to know: what is the status

of Meadowland and by extension the status of Learning & Families co-op school

You’re going to break some news Mrs. Bowers is coming to be

interviewed We want to know: what is the status

of Meadowland and by extension the status of Learning & Families co-op school

We have Mrs. B for 30 minutes... maybe a bit more

Mrs. Bowers cont.

Let’s start with her title and responsibilities (the boring facts)

Mrs. Bowers cont.

Let’s start with her title and responsibilities (the boring facts)

Then some general questions: how is LAF doing in the 2011-2012 school year? Attendance up, down? Number of high schoolers, middle schoolers, elementary schoolers?

Mrs. Bowers cont.

Let’s start with her title and responsibilities (the boring facts)

Then some general questions: how is LAF doing in the 2011-2012 school year? Attendance up, down? Number of high schoolers, middle schoolers, elementary schoolers?

What is mission of LAF?

Mrs. Bowers take III

Then let’s ease into the Meadowland stuff

Mrs. Bowers take III

Then let’s ease into the Meadowland stuff

Is Meadowland church still in biz? Does that affect LAF? Do we have contingency plan? Who is taking over Meadowland? What does LAF leadership think of situation?

Assignments 9/20

Write your Mrs. Bowers story. Do a strong lead, build up with facts, use quotes. At least 500 w0rds. This should be an epic piece!

Assignments 9/20

Write your Mrs. Bowers story. Do a strong lead, build up with facts, use quotes. At least 500 w0rds. This should be an epic piece!

Read and study TTS pages 42-65