Interviewing

1. Interviewing A question of asking right...

2. General skills • Asking the right question can turn the source into a window for news. • Wrong or insufficient questions, or giving up on a close-lipped source may cause the story to fail. • Needs patience, confidence, ability to listen, participate, observe and absorb. • While the source talks, zero the key points and prepare for your next question.

3. Stages of an interview • Research • Setting up the interview • Questions and answers

4. Research: do your homework • Sources are more likely to relax and open up to reporters who speak with knowledge, i.e. authority. They often offer scarce info if they feel they’re not asked intelligent questions or do not know what they’re talking about. • First destination: the archives, or newspaper libraries that were once called “morgues”.

5. Research • In addition to your institution's archive, you can access other media’s archives using the internet (internet in general is a big useful archive when used with care). • It also helps in maintaining consistency and background as far as spelling, places and timings are concerned. • Ask experts, officials, or even informed colleagues who know the interviewee.

6. Research • Some sources are writers themselves, take a look at what they’ve written. • Other sources have never been interviewed, so you might want to ask their friends and acquaintances. • Any info you can gather is helpful and will make the task easier.

7. Setting up • Set the appointment • Identify yourself as a reporter and the organization you work for. Then they’ll be held responsible for what they say. • Tell the person the general info sought. No need to reveal specific questions, but the general idea you’re working on and how his talk serves it.

8. Setting up • Tell the person approximately how long the interview will take. • Dress appropriately and be on time. • Sources tend to be more talkative on their turf, so let them decide on time and place if your deadline permits. • You may try to phone them directly (past secretariat and PR people) and maybe email (some interviews are held via email).

9. Conducting the interview • Structure, types of questions, theme, observations and note-taking… all make the interview happen: • Funnel interview. • Inverted funnel interview.

10. Funnel structure • Most common and most relaxing for both source and reporter because the toughest and most threatening questions are left till the end. • For EX you start with: how long have you been in the company? What do you think of the general financial situation in the country? How would you define a “financial crisis”?...

11. Funnel structure • Background questions are followed by open-ended questions, then closed-ended or challenging questions. • Most useful: when the source is not used to being interviewed, the time span not imp, and when touchy closed-ended questions need to be asked. • General questions establish rapport, then tough questions likely responded to.

12. Inverted Funnel structure • Key questions asked immediately, especially in breaking news stories, no time. • Convenient with politicians, gov officials, etc.. experienced with adversarial questions (e.g. a politician announcing a change of allies in elections: he’ll be ready for “Don’t you feel that you betrayed your traditional allies?” OR “Won’t people punish your list during the voting process?”)

13. Questions • PLANNINGQUESTIONS: memorize or write on paper. This is where homework comes in. Imp to know exactly what needs to be covered, even if some Qs go unanswered or if spontaneous Qs pop up during interview. Avoid staring at the list or checking off questions one by one. It gives wrong impression (uneasy) and prevents eye contact.

14. Questions • CLOSED-ENDED QUESTIONS: requiring short specific answers (e.g. “do you agree with MPs of Lebanese Phalanges that letting 18-year olds vote disrupts the Lebanese sectarian demography?” OR “is it true that the Cedar Island project you promote will have serious effects on the environment?”). Impression: you know a lot, interview’s better continued, no room for info that the secretary can answer.

15. Questions • OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: allow time for source, break the ice, opportunity to elaborate and reveal source’s ideas and character (e.g. Baheya Hariri: “how did you work you way from a school teacher to being the Minister of Education?”). Reserves closed end Qs till source relaxed unlike when rushed in time with a source used to specific questions (e.g. “do you think the teachers’ demands are rightful?”)

16. Questions • PERSONAL QUESTIONS: even most experienced reporters dread to ask a mother about a dead son, or a public figure about a scandalous rumor.. Use softening intros like “sorry to bother but I must ask this question..” OR “I know you’re busy but I need to know this..” (tips: face to face, casual place, recorder on later, “tell me about your son” rather than “how did he die”,…).

17. Follow up questions • Rearticulate the question, or ask a new one to get a more specific response. E.g. Reporter: Why have you postponed announcing your list for elections, though you’d previously stated that you’ll do it Monday? Politician: We are waiting for the right timing, and we’re still consulting with the candidates we have in mind.. Reporter: Your opponents have postponed their declaration too, is it true that there are hushed negotiations for a deal to exchange seats?

18. Scenario conclusions • Reporter had done his homework and had asked appropriate open-end Qs. • Reporter listened intensely to the response realizing that politician is trying to convey a serious “cooperative” message to opponents, but afraid it might affect electors’ perception of his party. • Reporter knew subject well, i.e. was quick to interpret response & ask follow up Q.

19. Beginning reporters • May be interviewing sources not used to the media, i.e. won’t answer Qs fully bec: • They don’t understand it • They rambled too much & forgot it • They’re not qualified to answer • They do not want to answer. • They may answer another Q instead. • So: Make Qs intelligent, brief and clear. If problem occurs resort to Follow Up Qs.

20. Framing Qs to fit Story’s Goal • Determine the focus of your story early. So are you: • Showing that a politician is a crook? (closed-end Qs and adversarial. No guns or knives in hand, just don’t lose focus) • Portraying a success story (owner of a series of restaurants? (open-end Qs, easy to answer, looking for anecdotes and description, e.g. winner of Chevening)

21. News, Feature, Comprehensive • News story informs, explains. A source can add color, depth, perspective & meaning • Feature interviews bring the story to life. Sometimes no story without them. Qs framed for source to open up, or fail. • Comprehensive interviews combines both + analysis of source’s character, ideas, plans, i.e. the source IS your topic.

22. Establishing rapport • Conduct interview in person whenever possible. Phones & emails sometimes necessary but diminish rapport. • Begin with general, easy to answer Qs if possible. They relax the source. • Do not ask vague Qs. You won’t get the answer you want and they show incompetence/lack of confidence.

23. Do not beat around the bush. Be straight forward, firm and politely professional. • Avoid arguing. Reporters have the last say when they write. • Listen. Gives impression of conversation, respect, and you won’t miss out on imp follow up Qs bec occupied with YOU. • Be open for any response. It might reveal something that turns around your focus.

24. Hostile/uncommunicative sources • They might say “no comment”. Reporter cannot force them but try to convince them. • They might talk “off the record”. Source cannot enforce that, unless reporter agrees before the interview.

25. Marketing the talk or Preventing hostility • Do not act like Prosecuting Attorney. Save tough Qs till the end if you can. • Be understanding without taking sides. • Reason with source. Their comment makes story/their image clearer to public. • Understand their position. Find reasonable explanation for charges against them. After all, your aim is the truth and covering all sides of the story for the audience. • Keep asking. Have alt Qs in case no answer.

26. Observations • Writing source’s comments accurately makes the audience “hear”. • Observing and reporting mannerisms and surroundings makes them “see”. • Dress, the way they sit, the voice, when they laugh, when they gesture meaningfully, how the place looks (if relevant), etc…

27. Logistics • Audio recorders (eye contact BUT risk of losing it and might intimidate). • Taking sufficient notes (sometimes you end up with 2 pages out f 15 pages of notes). • Write fast and put note pad and recorder in inconspicuous place. • Use symbols (good quote or imp number/info, i.e. easier leads). • Ask for repetitions, i.e. conscientious.

28. After the interview • Keep interview going as long as possible (most imp info usually at the end). • Contacts for later reference, corrections, or clarifications. • Do not show source written results (sometimes possible to show numbers, technical explanations, and maybe quotations but without accepting changes of position).