Social Care Needs Theme: Effective Services

UNIT 5 INTERVIEWING

3.1 The Information Interview

This is primarily to reveal facts or opinions. For example: ‘how many ambulances are off the road because of a maintenance problem? ‘Which way do you as a minister intend to vote in today’s crucial local government election?’; ‘Why weren’t the main roads in the country rehabilitated?

Note some of the words used above. The crucial words to use when asking questions are: What, where, who, how, why, and when.

Questions starting with these words elicit answers other than just ‘yes’

or ‘no’, therefore making them much more useful for radio.

3.2 The Interpretive Interview

The interpretive interview is quite different. The subject of the interview needs to interpret some facts, which are already known. The fact that interest rates are rising again; the financial expert can be asked what effect this will have on mortgage rates. You should still, though ask the question using the word ‘what’.

3.3 The Emotional Interview

The emotional interview is by far the trickiest type. Good reporting covers all shades and colours of human emotional experiences. Be conscious not to cause more harm to your subject during emotional interviews.

3.4 Interview Preparation

If you are to ask sensible questions, you must know something of the subject. That is not to say that you need to be an expert yourself, but a few minutes of research is important before hand.

However, you may well get pushed into an interview without any chance whatsoever to prepare. In that case, use you interviewee as a research resource.

Let us say that you are about to interview a shop steward who is calling for a strike. You know little more than his name, his employer’s name, and the union he represents. If you ask for an outright briefing before the interview, he may respect your honesty or he may feel contempt for your lack of knowledge, however unavoidable it may have been. So start with a wide – ranging question: ‘Why do you think that a strike is now inevitable? It is difficult to answer that question without giving a clue to the last offer from the employer! Now that you know the last

offer was an extra 12%, you can go on to ask what would be acceptable and so on. The conversation has begun.

3.5 Location

You may carry out an interview almost anywhere. Most are recorded, but even live interviews can be conducted in many places outside the traditional studio. When you go out on location, make the most of the opportunities, which may exist to include sound effects when these are relevant.

‘What did you have for breakfast…?’

This question has gone into the lore of radio reporting. Newcomers – and some old hands- think it helps to ask the interviewee about the first meal of the day, to get some recording level and get the conversation going. It is all rather artificial and is better avoided – especially after one famous politician answered: ‘An interviewer’! It is much more practical to ask the interviewee for his name and job title. You can take some level on that and your recording is immediately tagged with crucial information. Do not rely on sticky paper labels alone; they can fall off at vital moments.

A chat before the interview is fine, assuming you have the time. It is perfectly acceptable for the interviewee to ask what, in general, the piece will be about, if that is not already obvious. You can do a little more discreet research at the same time. But do not let an interviewee insist on a list of questions in advance. You cannot let yourself be tied in this way because, by agreeing to ask certain things, you are also agreeing not to raise other matters, which may become more interesting as the interview progresses.

3.6 Watch their Language

Of course, everyone should use words acceptable for broadcasting. But there is another kind of language – the language of the body. The interviewee may inadvertently reveal a lot about his mental state by his posture. Folded arms may be a sign of defensiveness; wringing hands, crossed legs and tapping fingers may reveal various states of tension.

Tapping fingers, by the way, must be stopped with a courteous request.

Otherwise the recording will probably be spoilt by a most peculiar thumping sound.

3.7 Question Technique

You encourage an interviewee to talk by asking question. That is your job. But do not be tempted into dominating the conversation-the listener wants to hear the voice of the interviewee rather than that of the interviewer. Below are a few general points.

Listening to answers:

This is another good argument against prearranged questions. You must listen to what your subject has to say.

Asking one thing at a time:

Make an effort not to ramble.

Reporter: ‘Would you say, then, that bus drivers have had enough, that is, that they are saying they aren’t paid enough, so that they might take action – er, actually go on strike?’.

Do not ask two or more questions in one:

Reporter: ‘Is it true that treating the roads cost the country more than thirty thousand pounds last winter and that you had to use salt as well as grit?’

Do not start quoting alternatives – then stop in mid-sentence:

Reporter: ‘Are you recommending to victims that they go to the police or the council or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau or …?’

Try not to interrupt, unless your subject is never going to stop until you intervene. Interruptions often sound untidy, and they are very difficult to edit sensibly into a short clip.

If you are in any doubt about suitable questions, remember the basics:

What, where, who, how, why, and when. For example: ‘What happened?’; ‘Where’s the accident?’; ‘Who’s involved?’; ‘How many people have been hurt?’; ‘Why did the coach overturn?’; ‘When will the road be clear?’

Eye Contact

Encourage your subject with eye contact; it is friendly up to a point, but glance elsewhere now and then, otherwise it becomes aggressive.

Use nods of the head to show that you are listening and understanding. Do not say ‘yes.’ or ‘I see…’ and other audible means of encouragement we use in conversation.

Leading Questions

These questions encourage a certain answer and they are useful up to a point. Beware also that they are not necessarily ‘closed’ type questions, which could lead to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer: ‘So would you say that mothers must take extra care?’ ‘You must be very angry about the decision?’. Do not overdo these questions, as you are in danger of putting words into your subject’s mouth.

Cliché Questions

Think about your question technique. Each question you ask should serve a specific purpose. Do not fall into ‘knee-jerk’ interviewing habits:

Reporter: (to sobbing woman); ‘How do you feel?’

3.8 After the Interview

Do not go on longer than is reasonably necessary. Remember that you have got to listen to it all back afterwards. If you want a 30 – second clip, 15 minutes is too much to put on tape. Five should be enough and 10 more than ample. If you are after a clip and you hear what you want during the recording, wind up as soon as you can. There is no point in going on in the hope of something better.

Thanks

Remember to thank you subject. It is good public relations, as well as common courtesy, and you might need to talk to that person again in the future.

Self Assessment Exercise 5.1

1. Pick someone on radio or television that you think is a good interviewer. Tape a live interview the reporter does and write down the questions.

2. Go to a university and interview an expert in any field of your choice. Write a news story from the interview.

4.0 CONCLUSION

Interview is an important source of news for you as a reporter. However it is not a job for every reporter. Rather, it is an art reserved for those who can apply the techniques. Thus, you need to master the techniques of interviewing before embarking on one.

5.0 SUMMARY

The following types of interview are common in journalism;

Informational interview, interpretive interview, and emotional interview.

Besides, you need to know about the subject of interview. Also, watch your language, ask one thing at a time, listen to answers but control the interview.

6.0 TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA)

Your editor has assigned you to cover a robbery at a commercial bank.

Write in details how you will go about the story. Those you will interview and the questions you will ask.

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS

Brooks, Brian et al (1988): News Reporting And Writing, New York, St Martins Press pp. 429 – 435.

Mencher, Melvin (2000): News Reporting and Writing, 8^th Edition;

Boston.

MODULE 4