As objective journalism becomes harder and harder to find, journalists with the skill and desire to conduct fair interviews with newsmakers are in high demand. These interviews can provide valuable insights, uncover hidden stories, and bring important issues to light. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how journalists can effectively interview newsmakers.
Preparation: The Foundation of a Successful Interview
Research Thoroughly: Before the interview, gather as much information as possible about the newsmaker. Understand their background, recent activities, and the context of their involvement in the news. This preparation allows you to ask informed and relevant questions.
Set Clear Objectives: Define what you hope to achieve with the interview. Are you looking to clarify facts, get a personal perspective, or uncover new information? Clear objectives help structure your questions and keep the interview focused.
Develop a Question Flow: Organize your questions in a logical sequence. Start with broader questions to ease into the conversation, then move to more specific and probing questions. This approach helps the interviewee feel comfortable and opens up more detailed responses.
Crafting Effective Questions
Open-Ended Questions: These questions encourage detailed responses and provide deeper insights. For example, instead of asking, “Did you support the policy?” ask, “What are your thoughts on the policy and its impact?”
Closed-Ended Questions: Use these sparingly to confirm specific facts. They are useful for getting clear, concise answers but can limit the depth of the conversation.
Behavioral Questions: These questions focus on past actions and experiences, revealing how the newsmaker has handled situations before. For example, “Can you describe a time when you faced significant opposition to one of your policies and how you managed that situation?”
Situational Questions: Present hypothetical scenarios to understand how the newsmaker might respond to future events. For example, “If you were elected, how would you address the current economic challenges facing the nation?”
Why and What Questions: Use “Why” questions to explore motivations and “What” questions to delve into specifics. For example, “Why did you decide to take this approach?” and “What were the key factors in your decision?”
Active Listening and Follow-Up
Listen Actively: Pay close attention to the interviewee’s responses. Active listening helps you pick up on nuances and follow up on interesting points.
Ask Follow-Up Questions: If the interviewee mentions something intriguing, ask them to elaborate. For example, “You mentioned facing resistance—can you tell me more about that?”
Seek Clarification: If a response is vague or unclear, ask for clarification. For example, “You mentioned you would improve the economy by creating opportunities. Can you tell me what that means? What does that look like? How will you do so?”
Creating a Comfortable Environment
Build Rapport: Start with light, casual conversation to ease any tension. Establishing a connection early on makes the interviewee feel more at ease and open.
Maintain Neutrality: Avoid inserting your own opinions, especially in sensitive discussions. Neutral body language and tone help the interviewee feel comfortable sharing openly.
Set Expectations: Outline how long the interview will take and what you plan to cover. If recording, ensure the interviewee is comfortable with it.
Avoiding Leading and Loaded Questions
Leading Questions: Avoid suggesting the answer you’re hoping for. For example, ask “What are your thoughts on how the new policy affects small businesses?” instead of “Don’t you think the new policy is unfair to small businesses?”
Loaded Questions: Avoid assumptions. For example, ask “How has your administration responded to the concerns about rising crime rates in the city?” instead of “Why did your administration fail to address the rising crime rates in the city?”
Ending the Interview
Reflection: Ask if there’s anything else the interviewee would like to add. This can bring up valuable points you might have missed.
Next Steps: Outline any follow-up actions and timelines. This leaves the interviewee with a clear sense of direction.
By following these steps, journalists can conduct effective and engaging interviews with newsmakers, uncovering valuable insights and crafting compelling stories.
Sources:
12 dos and don’ts of journalistic interviews | International Journalists’ Network (ijnet.org)
An illustrated guide to the basics of interviewing – Poynter
Interviewing Techniques | Journalism Study Guide by HyperWrite (hyperwriteai.com)