Interview Notes

Where to begin:

• Choose three interviewees
• Schedule Interviews (24+ hours ahead)
• Give a "heads up" to interviewees
• Conduct background research
• Write interview questions (10-15)

Why to prepare questions:

• 1st impressions
• Nervous, unexpected circumstances
• higher quality questions
• preparation is a guide, not a limitation

Holy Trinity of Interviewing:

*Anecdote- a brief story told by the interviewee/entertaining/paraphrased by writer/paints a picture for a reader

*Revealing quote- Said by the interviewee/gives readers insight to personality/unique to the interviewee

*Portraiture- Description created by writer/based on observations of the interviewee/description is relevant to topic (not random)

Preparation Payoff-

Varying types for various purposes

To relax, gain trust, show genuine interest

Interviewees who trust you will talk and talk

Types of questions-

1. Opener- beginning question/remark;establish a rapport
2. First Step- asks about the topic
3. Qualifier- find out if source is qualified
4. Routine factual- 5 W's and H
5. Numerical- statistical information
6. G-O-S-S-E-Y- A way to ask deeper questions; Goals, Obstacles, Solutions, Start, Evaltuation, why
7. Responder- clarification
8. Soliciting a quote- getting a standalone quote you can use, and clarifying the exact wording
9. Soliciting an anecdote- prompting a short story
10. Imaginative- strays from the routine questions
11. Grenade- difficult question
12. Recover from grenade- a neutral question to recover

Concluding the interview- "Thank you," Sign documentation sheet, any further questions

Beware- Not everyone is a great interviewee, Plan ahead for unforseen circumstances