| If you want your writing to be published in a | | | | interview at that stage. |
| magazine or newspaper, sooner or later you'll | | | | How you handle the interview will depend on the |
| have to talk to someone. Journalism is not about | | | | time allocated and the interviewee's personality. If |
| sitting in a dark room and making up stories in | | | | the person is warm, friendly and used to being |
| your head. If that's what you want to do, write | | | | interviewed, you can go straight in with the |
| novels or short stories and use blogging as a | | | | difficult questions. If you've got more time or |
| publishing outlet. | | | | your interviewee is nervous, start with the easy, |
| People want to read about other people, so if you | | | | fact-checking questions before moving on to |
| want to write a really interesting article, you'll | | | | more difficult issues. Remember to listen to the |
| have to learn how to do a good interview. | | | | answers so you can decide when or if to change |
| Preparation is key. You should go into an interview | | | | direction. |
| having researched your topic or interviewee and | | | | Make sure you have a recording device (with |
| should already have a good idea of the answers | | | | spare batteries and power cable), a notebook and |
| you are likely to get. You should also have | | | | a couple of pens. Use both the notebook and the |
| prepared a list of questions you'll need to ask. | | | | recording device, so you don't come away with |
| At the very least, these should include the who, | | | | nothing in the event of a technical failure. |
| where, what, why, when and how of the story. | | | | Three final points: ask open-ended questions, |
| Your question list should also include any facts | | | | rather than yes/no questions. You'll get more |
| that you need to check. | | | | information that way. Establish whether anything |
| Having said all that, be prepared to go with the | | | | that's talked about is off the record (I usually say |
| flow. If your interviewee goes off at a tangent, | | | | that if they don't want it printed, they shouldn't |
| let her (or him). But make sure you've asked all | | | | tell me). Most importantly, don't be afraid to look |
| the relevant questions before you leave the table. | | | | stupid. It's better to show your ignorance in front |
| You'll be able to check facts later over the phone, | | | | of the interviewee than in print. |
| but you shouldn't be conducting a whole new | | | | |