2. Guideline to follow
Make an appointment
Identify yourself
Consider your source’s convenience
Describe the story
Dress the part
Be on time
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3. Structuring an Interview
Funnel Interview
Most common and most relaxing.
The toughest questions saved for near the end.
Start with background questions, followed by open-ended
question then followed by closed-ended questions.
Beginning with general, easy-to-answer has a good chance
of establishing rapport with the source.
When the tough questioning begins, the source is more
likely to respond candidly.
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4. Structuring an Interview
Inverted-Funnel Interview
The key questions are asked immediately.
This style of interview is used with people, such
as law enforcement, officer or government
officials.
Inverted-funnel interviews are mostly used in
breaking news stories when there is little time to
ask questions.
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5. Asking Questions
Planning Questions
Memorize or write down important questions.
Do homework – read previous news or conduct
preliminary interviews.
Additional questions might pop-up during the
interview – jot them down.
Avoid staring and reading from your note pad
Listen to the interviewee.
Make eye contact.
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6. Asking Questions
Closed-ended Questions
Timing and wording of questions during an
interview can affect source response.
Some interview need quick, short and specific
answers.
The best way is to ask closed-ended questions.
The question showed the reporter has interviewed
other people and know most of the answers.
Don’t afraid to ask tough question but don’t ask
nonsense questions.
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7. Asking Questions
Open-ended Questions
Used when short, precise answer is not
immediately necessary.
It allows a source more time to develop an
answer – less intimidating.
It is a good way to break the ice and established
rapport before a more detailed closed-ended
questions being asked.
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8. Asking Questions
Open-ended or Closed-ended?
How the subject react to certain question?
Reserved closed-ended question when the source is
relaxed and begin to open up.
The length of the interview
If an important source who is rushed for the time is
being interviewed, get to the heart of the interview by
asking specific questions.
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9. Asking Questions
Asking Personal Questions
Do your homework.
Try to interview the person face-to-face.
Interview in a casual setting.
Break the ice with general questions.
If the interview is being taped, try not to turn the
recorder right away.
Sometimes, it is easier not to ask question at all.
Preface the question.
Coax an uncooperative source.
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10. Asking Questions
Using follow-up Questions
Follow-up questions – rearticulate their questions
or ask another question to elicit a new or a more
specific response from a source.
You need to:
Do necessary homework and ask appropriate open-
ended questions.
Listen intently to the response.
Know the subject well and able to interpret the
response quickly and followed with another question.
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11. Asking Questions
Framing Questions
Reporters should know what is the theme and purpose of
study before begin the interviewing process.
E.g. – the success of a restaurant owner, crooked politician,
how people cope with increasing crime in Malaysia, etc.
Once determined, the questions can be framed so that the
interview will help the reporter to achieve it.
Interviews are vital in a feature story – they bring it to life –
without interview, there is no story.
Question must be framed so that the sources can help to
tell the story.
Preparation is the key for making the interview to fit the
story – have a list of questions, if not specific.
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12. Asking Questions
Establishing Rapport
Reporters must establish rapport with their sources as
quickly as possible – the key to getting their questions
answered.
Most sources will not answer questions candidly until they
have “warmed-up” to the reporter.
Guidelines:
Try to conduct the interview in person.
Begin with general, easy-to-answer question.
Do not ask vague questions.
Don’t beat around the bushes.
Avoid arguing
Listen
Be open to any response. 12
13. Asking Questions
Making & Using Observation
When reporters write accurately what source has said,
audience can “hear”.
When reporters observe and report the source mannerism
and surroundings, the audience can see.
Observation add color to stories, which means they give
audience clearer picture of a person or event.
When reporting, keep in mind:
Unusual or common about the person or place.
How articulate the source.
Observation are vital to features, and sometimes for news
stories.
Only reporters can obtain observation.
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14. Asking Questions
Taking notes
Using recorder
The advantage is reporters can make eye contact
But still have to take notes too – in case
malfunctioning recorder.
Recorder also have disadvantage:
Intimidate your source.
Waste time because reporters have to listen back.
Great advantage of recorder is it is permanent,
precise and prevent from misquoting.
The reporter take note to remember key points.
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15. Asking Questions
Taking notes
Take sufficient notes
Write faster
Managing note pad
Using symbols
Asking for repetition
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