Comments on: 13 Simple Journalist Techniques For Effective Interviews http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Joshua M Rosenau http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-95259 Joshua M Rosenau Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:03:56 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-95259 Great article. The other day I found myself in an impromptu interview with a D.A., and I bombed it because I hadn't codified the questions in my head. Normally, I am smart enough to get around to the necessary questions after a little conversation, but the D.A. was not only busy, but also fairly adept at delivering brief, incisive answers that are intentionally dull. Had I followed the steps recommended here, I am sure it would have gone much better. Thanks for writing such a useful post. Great article.

The other day I found myself in an impromptu interview with a D.A., and I bombed it because I hadn’t codified the questions in my head.

Normally, I am smart enough to get around to the necessary questions after a little conversation, but the D.A. was not only busy, but also fairly adept at delivering brief, incisive answers that are intentionally dull.

Had I followed the steps recommended here, I am sure it would have gone much better.

Thanks for writing such a useful post.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Nick Rowlands http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-90958 Nick Rowlands Sat, 09 May 2009 20:08:22 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-90958 Fantastic article! One tip someone told me is that if you haven't got what you need from the interview, if there's one killer question that you haven't quite been able to work in, or get a decent answer to, then pack up and leave. On your way out, ever so casually, ask your question. Make it sound like you almost forgot it - "Oh, by the way ..." or "Out of interest ..." are quite good openers for this. You may find your subject opens up so much that you have to sit down and do the whole interview again! Fantastic article!

One tip someone told me is that if you haven’t got what you need from the interview, if there’s one killer question that you haven’t quite been able to work in, or get a decent answer to, then pack up and leave. On your way out, ever so casually, ask your question. Make it sound like you almost forgot it – “Oh, by the way …” or “Out of interest …” are quite good openers for this. You may find your subject opens up so much that you have to sit down and do the whole interview again!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Chris http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-86268 Chris Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:37:09 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-86268 This article is really informative and helpful, thanks!! I love to write, but I am definitely a little intimidated by the interview and unsure how to go about it at times. This is a very good outline. Thanks! This article is really informative and helpful, thanks!! I love to write, but I am definitely a little intimidated by the interview and unsure how to go about it at times. This is a very good outline. Thanks!

(Report comment)

]]> By: thefemaletraveller.com » 5 Useful Resources for Writing Travel Articles http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-46639 thefemaletraveller.com » 5 Useful Resources for Writing Travel Articles Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:43:54 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-46639 [...] 4) 13 Simple Journalist Techniques For Effective Interviews [...] [...] 4) 13 Simple Journalist Techniques For Effective Interviews [...]

(Report comment)

]]> By: Becka http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-44799 Becka Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:06:44 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-44799 Great!! This will be perfect for my staff! Thanks :) Great!! This will be perfect for my staff! Thanks :)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Derek C. Wallace http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1289 Derek C. Wallace Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:38:50 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-1289 Excellent tips, as always, Sarah! One article I'd be very curious to see from you (and maybe you've already done this one, if so, forgive me and link away!) is the role of objectivity in journalism and how you balance that out with your personal desire to report on issues that mainstream media doesn't cover (which in itself reveals a bias). Can reporters ever truly be "neutral"? Or is everything we write a reflection of our biases and, hence, propaganda? Ian, I'd love to conduct that interview with Sarah! One independent journalist to another! :) Excellent tips, as always, Sarah!

One article I’d be very curious to see from you (and maybe you’ve already done this one, if so, forgive me and link away!) is the role of objectivity in journalism and how you balance that out with your personal desire to report on issues that mainstream media doesn’t cover (which in itself reveals a bias). Can reporters ever truly be “neutral”? Or is everything we write a reflection of our biases and, hence, propaganda?

Ian, I’d love to conduct that interview with Sarah! One independent journalist to another! :)

(Report comment)

]]> By: jv http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 jv Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:16:28 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-1280 Those a pretty good tips! I especially like (and agree with) the tip regarding awkward silences. Classic interregator's technique. If you can train yourself not to feel awkward, then the interviewee will be the only one ... and the tendency is for an uncomfortable person to fill that silence. One tip I'd add: It helps to phrase certain questions in an open-ended way. "Tell me about ...", "How did you feel ...", "What do you think about". You can always narrow things down in your follow-ups if you need more specific info, but open-ended Qs work well to get things rolling. Those a pretty good tips! I especially like (and agree with) the tip regarding awkward silences. Classic interregator’s technique. If you can train yourself not to feel awkward, then the interviewee will be the only one … and the tendency is for an uncomfortable person to fill that silence.

One tip I’d add: It helps to phrase certain questions in an open-ended way. “Tell me about …”, “How did you feel …”, “What do you think about”. You can always narrow things down in your follow-ups if you need more specific info, but open-ended Qs work well to get things rolling.

(Report comment)

]]> By: JennDZ http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-942 JennDZ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:26:38 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-942 Wow Sarah, your articles are just so helpful for me as a budding writer. I did a big project out in the American Southwest several years ago and I always had the hardest time with interviews, because I did not want people to feel "put on the spot" but that is exactly what an interview is, and I guess I have a hard time being the one to ask the questions, especially when it is a heated topic. You don't want people to feel like you are prying. Any suggestions for putting people at ease----including yourself??!! Wow Sarah, your articles are just so helpful for me as a budding writer. I did a big project out in the American Southwest several years ago and I always had the hardest time with interviews, because I did not want people to feel “put on the spot” but that is exactly what an interview is, and I guess I have a hard time being the one to ask the questions, especially when it is a heated topic. You don’t want people to feel like you are prying. Any suggestions for putting people at ease—-including yourself??!!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Jack http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-866 Jack Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:21:10 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-866 Great article, I've picked up a couple of tips from this: esp. number 7 about trying to not let the notebook rule the interview. Great article, I’ve picked up a couple of tips from this: esp. number 7 about trying to not let the notebook rule the interview.

(Report comment)

]]> By: ianmack http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/comment-page-1/#comment-863 ianmack Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:32:01 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/03/26/13-simple-journalist-techniques-for-effective-interviews/#comment-863 Glad you're finding such useful material here at Brave New Traveler! Glad you’re finding such useful material here at Brave New Traveler!

(Report comment)

]]>