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ENG2120Jessica Thompson
AM112
How to Write a Profile Piece
Background Anecdotes Quotes Observations Comments News Peg
Ingredients of a Profile
The personality profile is an article about an individual.
A portrait of a person in words. It should include description, action and
dialogue (plenty of quotations). It’s a feature about a person; not a Q&A.
What is a Personality Profile?
“Exhaustive research is the basic building block of a successful interview.” - Clyde Haberman, columnist with The New York Times.
“The preparation is the same whether you are going to interview a diplomat, a jockey, or an ichthyologist. From the man's past you learn what questions are likely to stimulate a response.” - A.J. Liebling, The Most of A.J. Liebling
Preparation
Google the person for background: Twitter, personal websites, books written, etc.
Check Google News for any recent news on him/her.
It if it’s a local story, check the local papers for any recent news.
Read other interviews with the person you are profiling.
Research the subject
Research gives the reporter ideas for themes and specific questions.
Research gives the reporter a feel for the story and for the person they will be interviewing.
Research provides the reporter with useful background information
Why Research?
Research shows the subject that you have done the work and you understand the story.
Research will help you to avoid embarrassing situations such as: “That information is on my website, you should look it up.”
Research will separate the boys from the men, and will mean the difference between a boring discussion for the interviewee, or a chat that they enjoy.
Why Research?
Find someone you think it interesting/newsworthy.
Why are they interesting/newsworthy? Take 10 or 15 minutes to discuss this person
and what would be relevant for a profile. Consider what type of publication you would
do this profile for. Feel free to consider it as part of your end-
of-year group project.
Group Work
Like all other stories, profiles must have an angle or primary theme.
The theme should be introduced at the beginning and should run throughout the article.
Aim to reveal something about the person’s character through that theme.
Angle/Theme
Do the interview in person. Watch and listen. Spend time with the person while they
work, if possible. Bring a recording device with you to capture
quotes. Bring a notepad with you to capture
observations.
Show, Don’t Tell
What’s your goal? What type of story do you want to write? What space will you have to tell your story? Where will it be published? Who will read it? What’s your angle? What’s interesting about this person?
Before the Interview
Decide your angle Get background information Talk to people who know them Prepare your questions Prepare your equipment.
Before the Interview
Make sure you have your tools: notepad, pen, recorder, camera if necessary.
Test your tape recorder: use headphones to check the sound.
Meet the interviewee somewhere they will be comfortable and at a time they aren’t too busy.
Ask for consent before recording. Get that resent on tape: “I’ve just pressed
record, is that ok?” Prepare questions in advance and group them
into categories if necessary.
Setting up the Interview
Relax: he/she is probable more nervous than you are.
Make sure he/she is comfortable speaking to you. Begin with small talk if needed.
Be friendly to encourage them to open up. Nod and smile to encourage them to keep
speaking. Listen and add impromptu questions where
needed. Go with the flow.
At the Interview
Observe the interviewee and take in little details of their personality.
Use your notepad to record these. Note details of the subject’s environment as
well as personality and habits. Note what he/she is wearing. Take some notes even if you’re recording.
Batteries die and technology can let you down.
Check on the recorder from time to time to make sure it’s still going.
At the Interview
Thank them for their time. Ask if you can contact them if you have any
further questions. Tell them to contact you if they feel they’ve
missed something. Give them a timeline for when you plan to
write the piece and where it will be published.
Don’t agree to show it to them before publication unless it’s necessary.
At the End
Reflect on the interview and try to list your pain points of the story.
Come up with a theme if you’ve spotted a better one during the conversation.
Transcribe the recording if you have one. Rewrite your notes as soon as possible to
make sure they make sense. Contact the source again to supply missing
information. There’s no harm in a friendly email to thank
them for their time.
After the Interview
Look at the newspapers provided and try to find a profile piece.
Is this a good profile or a bad profile? What is good or bad about the profile? What extra questions do you think you
would have asked?
Group Work
Jessica Thompson
@Jess__Thompson
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