When Should I Conduct My Interviews?

Social scientists have observed that many reporters are reluctant to use documents or library re-sources. Reporters much prefer to interview sources. The preference is understandable. Inter- views with human sources are more likely to make reporters feel as if they are getting as close as possible to the events and issues they write about. Also, reliance on human sources is a habit built from years of covering breaking news stories where time may not allow library or documentary research. Nevertheless, all interviews, especially in-depth interviews, are most productive when reporters do their research first.

To prepare for an in-depth interview, reporters may spend hours, days or even weeks learning all they can about their sources and about the topics to discuss with them. Their research may lead them to a library, where they might read everything published about a person or issue. It might also lead them to public records, such as those showing what property a person owns or who controls specific businesses. Research might also lead reporters to secondary sources, people who are familiar with the main source and who may have insights and information that will help reporters interview the main source.

Reporters should always conduct their research before they interview the main source I subject of their stories. Thorough research gives reporters at least seven advantages:

• They will not waste time by asking about issues that have already been widely publicized.
• They will have leads for asking productive, interesting questions.
• They will not embarrass themselves by appearing ignorant. On the other hand, reporters sometimes want to feign ignorance about a topic to elicit more in-depth, revealing explanations.
• They are more likely to recognize newsworthy statements and ask intelligent follow up questions about them.
• They are more likely to spot inconsistencies and evasions in a source’s responses.
• They are less likely to have to reinter view their main source. If they interview the main source before doing their research and interviews with secondary sources, their subsequent research may uncover important topics they failed to cover in the initial interview.
• They encourage their sources to speak more freely, because sources are more likely to trust reporters who seem knowledgeable.

Reporters who fail to prepare for an interview will not know what to ask or how to report the information they get. Some sources will try to manipulate ignorant reporters or avoid difficult topics. Sometimes, sources will immediately end an interview-and scold unprepared reporters.

Brief interviews for breaking news stories may be conducted, usually over the telephone, without making previous arrangements. Reporters planning longer interviews-30 minutes or more-should make appointments. When conducting the interview in person, reporters should arrive early for their appointments and keep the interview within the agreed-upon time. They also should ask when the source might be available to answer follow-up questions.