1. Be prepared. Research the subject you are reporting about and the person you are interviewing. Your source will appreciate your effort, and you will be able to skip questions that could be answered by an assistant, book, or document. Make sure your tape recorder has batteries that work. Bring an extra tape as well as pens and notebook.
2. Set the expectations for the interview right up front. Be sure your subject understands the purpose of your interview (this will help keep the conversation on track).
3. Be on time. By beginning and ending the interview on time, you express your respect for your interviewee.
4. Be observant. Observe details of the place and of your interviewee; this can add color to your story. If you are interviewing people in their home or office, be sure to get a good look around and note what you see. For example, they may have some old photos that show them in a more personal light. You may start an interview with assumptions about a person and leave with a completely different impression. Talk to colleagues or friends of your source to get a bigger picture.
5. Be polite. Establish a polite rapport and a level of comfort for the interviewee.
6. Listen. Focus on your subject and listen carefully to what he/she has to say rather than thinking about your next question.
7. Don’t be afraid to interrupt when you don’t understand. One reason you are conducting this interview is to explain the subject to your readers. If your interviewee uses language only his/her peers would understand, politely interrupt and ask for further explanation. Never be embarrassed about not knowing something.
8. Maintain eye contact. While taking notes and/or recording the interview, maintain as much eye contact as possible. Try taking abbreviated notes, looking down only once in a while, so you can focus on your interviewee. This will make the interview more conversational.
8. Maintain eye contact. While taking notes and/or recording the interview, maintain as much eye contact as possible. Try taking abbreviated notes, looking down only once in a while, so you can focus on your interviewee. This will make the interview more conversational.
9. Before you leave... ask your source if there is anything that you might have forgotten to ask. Perhaps the interviewee is burning to tell you useful information, but you did not even think to ask that question. Ask for a contact number or e-mail address and a good time to call with follow-up questions. Thank your source for spending time talking with you before you leave.
10. Review your notes right after the interview. Don’t wait to review your notes. Go over them right away, while everything is fresh in your mind.
10. Review your notes right after the interview. Don’t wait to review your notes. Go over them right away, while everything is fresh in your mind.
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