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