It's true that the best interviews are like good conversations. That is, in most cases the interview should be a comfortable give-and-take session where you and the person you interview talk with each other, not at each other. Of course, if the interviewee is hostile or defensive, this may not be the case. But the three best things you can do to have a good interview are:
1) Prepare thoroughly by researching the topic and/or the person and list questions.
2) Take good notes and record the interview if possible.
3) Listen very attentively.
Being a good listener is the most important thing you can do. One of the biggest mistakes many inexperienced reporters make is worrying so much about what question to ask next, that they don't realize something important or unexpected that the interviewee has just said.
Here are a couple of short videos I would like you to watch. The first is some good advice about interviewing from network anchor Katie Couric. The second is from National Public Radio's Scott Simon.
I learned a lot from these two videos. Katie Couric taught me to be conversational and open during interviews and to anticipate and predict the person's response. That way you have a ready follow up question appropriate to their answer. Scott Simon taught me to tell a story in short brief sentences and to provide vivid details that the listeners/readers will remember. Both reporters also stressed the importance of listening.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to begin interviewing!
ReplyDeleteI thought that Katie Couric and Scott Simon were very informative, and their vidos taught me a lot about interviewing.
ReplyDeleteFrom watching Katie Couric's video, I learned that it's important to try not to ask questions that have a yes or no answer, and that having a prepared list of questions may be good, but it's better to actually listen to what people say during the interview, and base my follow up questions on that and use my prepared list of questions as more of a template.
From Scott Simon, I learned that I should avoid dependant clauses and speak conversationally in audio/video, and that I should provide my readers with vivid details.
This videos were excellent. From Katie Couric, I learned that it's important to research some background information on the person you're interviewing. I also learned that you must be a 'gracious host' in order to make the person feel most comfortable, resulting in a better interview. From Scott Simon, I learned that the beginning is the most important part. You must be able to capture their interest. Vivid details are also extremely important. Finally, a story should be told in short breathable sections.
ReplyDeleteThe videos posted gave a very detailed and easy-to-understand lesson on the art of interviewing. You have to be a good listener and a good conversationalist to produce a good interview. One of the worst things in the world is a boring or awkward interview and one in which you do not obtain much information from. Katie Couric has spent many years interviewing and she shared some valuable information on the video. One of the most important things she said was that you should always have a follow-up question ready to avoid any awkward dead air during the interview. She also said that you should make your interviewee feel comfortable and at ease. Scott Simon said that an interview should be detailed and interesting. He noted that such interest such be attracted at the very beginning of the interview. He also said that you should hold your interview as if it was a conversation and speak in brief sentences. These videos summed up what an excellent interview should contain.
ReplyDeleteI'm also excited to begin interviewing, and these videos helped understand how you need to behave in an interview to get the best answers and quotes possible. Some examples from Katie's video which I thought were the best were suggestions like the follow-up question to avoid any awkward moments - which could make your interviewee uncomfortable and most importantly - listen. Let the other person do most of the talking so you can get the best information possible. Although it seemed like both Katie and Scott's videos were geared towards broadcast journalism and taped, or televised interviews they were still helpful for print journalism. If you are able to make comfortable conversation and really listen to what another person is saying then they will open up to you, and share more information. If you don't have insightful questions prepared or you yourself are very tense and nervous about the entire interviewing process the end result could be stiff, boring, and information that doesn't help you at all.
ReplyDeleteThese were great videos! They really explained a lot of things that I did not know about interviewing and telling stories. Katie Couric's video really informed me of how to make your interviewee comfortable and letting them do most of the talking and trying to get the most information you can. She gave really good advice of how to always remember that the interviewer should always keep in mind that they are there to get information to the public. Scott Simon really emphasized of how to use major detail in a story. He talked about how to keep your listerners interested and saying things that will make them remember the story so they can tell another person the same story. I thought both reporters gave great insight of how to be a great interviewer and story- teller.
ReplyDeleteLaura N.
ReplyDeleteThese videos were very good and helped me understand a lot about interviewing. Katie Couric and Scott Simon gave very good information and advice. Interviewing people seems really fun!
The videos made interviewing seem very easy and it also gave me a better understanding of the concept of interviewing. Katie Couric's video informed me about some of the techniques used for interviewing. For example, you must make the person your interviewing comfortable and at ease. You can start by small talk. Overall, the video gave me a better idea of how to approach interviewing.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to start interviewing, too! In interviews, the videos showed, if a person isn't comfortable, the interview isn't going to be good. By being kind and warm like Katie Couric is, you make the interviewee feel welcome to talk. A simple smile can brighten anyone's day. Listening is important to interviewing because if you don't, the interview would just be a boring string of questions. Researching your person is important because if you don't, like Miss Couric, you'll be confused as she was with Bobcat Goldthwait. Scott Simon made it clear that vivid imagery is important to tell a story or anecdote. He also had a pretty sweet Winston Churchill impression. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to start interviewing people. I hope I can remember all the tips and rules when it comes down to the actual interviews :]
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