Interview skills lecture notes

Essential journalism - lecture 4
Interviews
Lecture given by Sue North

Why do we interview?
• to find out more information
• Depth and weight to news and features
• Confirm what we have heard
• Bring stories to life
• Credibility
• Balance

Who might you interview;
• press officers
• Shop owners
• People on the street/normal people
• Teachers
• Celebrities
• Union members
• Members of the armed forces
• Members of emergency services
• Representatives from charities
• Chefs
• Farmers
• Councillors
• MPs
• Government officials
• Lawyers
• Accountants
• Experts
• Scientists
• etc…

Types of interviews;
• confirmation of facts - police, fire, courts, eye witnesses , press officers
• Short interviews for news bulletins for radio and tv/news stories for web and
print (5-8 minutes)
• In dept interview for programmes, features
• Vox pops - people on the street opinions (broadcast and print)

How to interview;
• face to face
• Telephone
• skype/facetime/facebook messenger
• ISDN (broadcast only)
• Avoid email!

Its a conversation;
• avoid a question, answer format
• Its not about you
• Think about the flow of your interview
• Get answers, don’t confront interviewees
• Think about your body language - be engaging, hold eye contact, encourage
(nod)