Journalism Interviewing Vocabulary Questions with Verified Answers (Graded A+)
open-ended questions - Answers Questions used in an interview that require a sentence or more as a
response. Sources respond in their own words, providing complete thoughts.
close-ended question - Answers This is a question that elicits a one-word response, including yes/no
questions.
follow-up questions - Answers These questions are used to develop a response to a recent question
during an interview.
two-part questions - Answers Here, the reporter will ask two questions at once to help elicit a response.
rephrase - Answers This is a method of clarification. A source might provide essential information that is
jumbled or unorganized; interviewers redirect the question to get a clearer response.
expert - Answers A source who is highly knowledgeable about a story topic, often an adult or someone
who is directly involved with the event or topic.
direct quote - Answers The exact words provided by a source, usually gained through an interview.
indirect quote - Answers Information provided by a source that is paraphrased by the writer and used
without quotation marks (but is still attributed).
attribution - Answers The identification of the source providing information in a story.
reaction - Answers This is a comment made by a source when asked to respond to an event, issue, topic
or a comment made by another source or story subject.
formal interview - Answers This is a well-planned interview, usually a sit-down between interviewer and
interviewee.
softball question - Answers These are the easier, uncontroversial questions that a reporter usually uses
to begin an interview. These types of questions help to make the source comfortable.
fact checking - Answers This is a method of information verification. Interviewers use this technique
during the interview by reading back the comments made by the interviewee.
advance - Answers A story that deals with an event that has not yet occurred, but is expect to yield news
or is of interest to readers or viewers because they might like to attend.
person on the street - Answers Interview technique where a reporter gets information from previously
unknown sources. Usually, these are brief interviews that gain reaction to a story topic or event.
Q-and-A - Answers The recorded interview session is conducted conversationally, but follows a strategic
plan to gain the best information in a logical order.
open-ended questions - Answers Questions used in an interview that require a sentence or more as a
response. Sources respond in their own words, providing complete thoughts.
close-ended question - Answers This is a question that elicits a one-word response, including yes/no
questions.
follow-up questions - Answers These questions are used to develop a response to a recent question
during an interview.
two-part questions - Answers Here, the reporter will ask two questions at once to help elicit a response.
rephrase - Answers This is a method of clarification. A source might provide essential information that is
jumbled or unorganized; interviewers redirect the question to get a clearer response.
expert - Answers A source who is highly knowledgeable about a story topic, often an adult or someone
who is directly involved with the event or topic.
direct quote - Answers The exact words provided by a source, usually gained through an interview.
indirect quote - Answers Information provided by a source that is paraphrased by the writer and used
without quotation marks (but is still attributed).
attribution - Answers The identification of the source providing information in a story.
reaction - Answers This is a comment made by a source when asked to respond to an event, issue, topic
or a comment made by another source or story subject.
formal interview - Answers This is a well-planned interview, usually a sit-down between interviewer and
interviewee.
softball question - Answers These are the easier, uncontroversial questions that a reporter usually uses
to begin an interview. These types of questions help to make the source comfortable.
fact checking - Answers This is a method of information verification. Interviewers use this technique
during the interview by reading back the comments made by the interviewee.
advance - Answers A story that deals with an event that has not yet occurred, but is expect to yield news
or is of interest to readers or viewers because they might like to attend.
person on the street - Answers Interview technique where a reporter gets information from previously
unknown sources. Usually, these are brief interviews that gain reaction to a story topic or event.
Q-and-A - Answers The recorded interview session is conducted conversationally, but follows a strategic
plan to gain the best information in a logical order.
