Dilapidated purple quietDiligently pursuing Quixote

DPQ

“I learned that I shouldn’t have joined the Army. They basically teach you to kill and that’s it. I wish I had went to school...”

“The whole island was still covered with bones from WWII. You could still smell the dead after five years...”

“Politics just about ruined me...”

“I was at the beach with some people swimming during some time off, and all of a sudden there were snipers shooting at us...”

Interviewing... cont.

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)

‘I did about 80 interviews each.” Be prepared. Be there

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

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 Sometimes your greatest challenge

is getting source to agree to interview: if they think you’re biased or have to something to hide, they will hide!

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: Barbara Walters writes out up to 500 questions on index cards!

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: Barbara Walters writes out up to 500 questions on index cards!

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”... unless you’re trying to pin them down: “Do you support the death penalty?”

During interview, deux

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

Same questions

Are you in favor of the tax increase? Do you support more money for

education?

Same questions

Are you in favor of the tax increase? Do you support more money for

education? What is your company’s position on

the union’s demand for higher wages?

Do you think a family of four can get ahead in today’s economy on $22,400 a year?

“A lot of my reporting comes from asking the same question three different ways...”

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

“Don’t just ask questions. Be an observer.”

Famous journo fails...

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 Be sure questions get answered,

especially with politicians

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!

Assignments 9/27

Pages 80-83: Inside Reporting

Assignments 9/27

Pages 80-83: Inside Reporting Re-read pages 59-65: Telling the

Story

Assignments 9/27

You will interview a classmate and write at least a 500-word story on them. Write out your questions in advance. You will use direct quotes, indirect quotes and other forms of attribution in your story. This is exercise 4 on page 66 of TTS

Assignments 9/27

You will interview a classmate and write at least a 500-word story on them. Write out your questions in advance. You will use direct quotes, indirect quotes and other forms of attribution in your story. This is exercise 4 on page 66 of TTS

Email your story to the source (your fellow journalism student). They will critique how accurate you are

Assignment 9/27

Sources: write up your critique and share it with your classmate and submit it to Mr. G along with the story you wrote on your classmate

Allie: Ashlyn Avery: Dylan Holton: Ian Miranda: Sarah David: Mr. G

Assignment 9/27

Sources: write up your critique and submit it to Mr. G along with the story you wrote on your classmate