Why am I Interviewing?

One basic method used by reporters to gather information is the interview. Newspaper, TV, Radio journalists use different techniques, but for the most part they all try to reach the same end: to find out as much news making information as they can from the person they are interviewing. In broadcast jargon, the interviewee is basically referred to as the talking head or simply the “head.”

Newspaper reporters have the luxury of going into depth into their interviews. Because radio and TV reporters have limited time on air, they have less time to conduct their interviews. Therefore, they must be selective in their questioning and must be well prepared. This chapter discusses techniques for conducting successful interviews. Reporters interview people to gather newsworthy information and opinions. Some interviews provide facts about events reporters were unable to witness. Other interviews provide opinions or colorful quotations about events. How successfully reporters obtain information depends on how well they have prepared. Just as every news story must answer six questions-Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? -Reporters must answer similar questions for them- selves as they prepare for interviews.

Reporters beginning the process of gathering information for a news story should ask them-selves, “Why am I conducting this interview? What kind of story will I write from this information?” Their answers will determine what kinds of questions they ask, what kinds of sources they seek and how they conduct themselves during an interview.

The reasons for interviewing may be as varied as stories themselves, but most often the re-porter will be seeking information for one of three types of stories: the news story, the feature story or the investigative story.

Reporters who cover a news story, such as a crime or a city council action, probably will need to interview several individuals to gather all relevant information. From each individual, reporters may seek no more than a few specific facts, out from the sum of the ‘interviews, re-porters construct a complete narrative. This means reporters must interview the source or sources that will provide the following:

• Facts and details, including dates, names, locations and costs.
• A chronology showing the sequence of events or the development of the issue over time.
• Relationships among the people or interests involved.
• Context and perspective, including the significance of the event or issue, its relationship to other issues and its historical significance.
• Anecdotes that illuminate the event or issue and make it more dramatic and understandable for readers or viewers.

Reporters seeking an interview in order to write a feature story, such as a personality pro-file, need everything they would need to write a news story plus the following:

• A description of the environment in which the subject lives or works.
• A description of how the subject appears and dresses.
• A description of the subject’s mannerisms.
• A description of smells sounds and texture using every sense to create an image of the interview subject.

Interviews for personality profiles may consume many hours for reporters and subjects, but often they are enjoyable experiences for both. In-depth interviews conducted for investigative stories produce more tension. The purpose of the investigative story often is to expose wrong-doing, and sources may fear losing their careers and reputations. Reporters working on the investigative story must obtain the same information as those working on more routine news stories or personality profiles plus some additional data:

• The subject’s version of events, which may differ from that of other sources and records.
• Explanations of contradictions. If the subject of the story tells a version of events that differs markedly from that of other sources, reporters must ask for an explanation. The subject’s explanation may be reasonable and may resolve the conflict-or it may not.
• Replies to charges and allegations. During an investigation, reporters may gather charges and allegations against the subject of the story. Those charges and allegations should be presented to the subject, who should have the opportunity to reply to them.