Lecture 6: Interviewing

InterviewingJennifer Cox

http://cmat240summer.wordpress.com

Objectives

• Go over extra credit practice

• Learn appropriate interviewing techniques

• Be able to recognize good quotes

• Discuss note-taking techniques

Extra credit

• Feature lede

The stage is set for Salisbury’s young actors searching for their big break this summer.

A late-summer night’s dream may come true for aspiring young actors this August at the Salisbury YMCA’s drama camp.

Move over Hollywood: Salisbury will play host to a hotbed of acting talent at the YMCA’s youth drama camp this summer.

Extra credit

• Nut graph• Can still have some creativity to match the tone• Why should I care? – think about your audience• Don’t repeat things from the lede

The camp program, “Lights, Camera, Action,” will give children ages 5-15 the opportunity to train with actors from Salisbury Actor’s Playhouse from Aug. 1-25. Campers will work on all aspects of theater, from writing and acting to scene construction and directing.

The Salisbury YMCA will host a summer camp for aspiring actors ages 5-15 from Aug. 1-25. Campers can sharpen their chops acting in Little Red Riding Hood and get into mischief in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Older campers can also try their hand at writing and directing short skits. And everyone will be able to get behind the scenes working on set construction.

Extra credit

• Additional information/background information• Find creative ways to work in details

Campers will be able to sharpen their chops

acting in Little Red Riding Hood and get into

mischief in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Older campers can also try their hand at writing and directing short skits. And everyone will be able to get behind the scenes working on set construction

Extra creditThe stage is set for Salisbury’s young actors searching

for their big break this summer.The Salisbury YMCA will host a summer camp for aspiring

actors ages 5-15 from Aug. 1-25. Campers can sharpen their chops acting in Little Red Riding Hood and get into mischief in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Older campers can also try their hand at writing and directing short skits. And everyone will be able to get behind the scenes working on set construction.

“This camp allows up the opportunity to reach out to the young people in this community and help them to reach for the stars,” Camp Director Joshua James said.

Registration for the camp is from May 20-June 30. For more information, visit www.YMCAdrama.com.

Before the interview

• Get background information• Use the Internet• Other sources• Press releases

• Write an outline – not a script• Let the conversation guide the interview, but don’t

forget your topic

• Set up the interview• Call and tell your source the topic• Ask when he/she is available to speak in person• For man-on-the-street, pick your location and seek

permission

• Dress nicely

Interview structure

• Clarify immediately that your conversation is for print -- NO ANONYMOUS SOURCES!

• Be sure to get:• name (spelling)• title• age (when appropriate)• phone number

• Start with soft, easy questions – break the ice

• Ask your closed-ended questions first

• Banter with your source – ask logical follow-ups

AN INTERVIEW IS JUST A CONVERSATION WHERE ONE PERSON IS TAKING NOTES

tips

• Take note of clothing, mannerisms and other non-verbal actions

• Don’t interrupt – you might cut off a good quote

• Practice good listening behavior• Nodding• Smiling• “uh huh…”• Eye contact

• Don’t ask double-barreled questions• Two questions in one

tips

• Follow up – be curious!• Why did you feel that way?• How did you feel about that?

• Get them to speak in layman’s terms

• Figure out the sequence of events

• Get relevant background information

• Be objective – don’t agree or disagree

tips

• Be in control – don’t let subjects ramble too much

• Repeat questions if you’re not satisfied

• Be sensitive

• Be silent

• Play devil’s advocate

Quotes/attribution

“The man was about 20 years old, and he carried a knife,” said John Smith, who reported the crime.

“I was terrified,” said John Smith, who reported the crime. “I really thought I was going to die.”

“I was terrified,” said John Smith, who reported the crime. “I really thought I was going to die.”

• Use quotes to convey emotions/reactions, not details

• Last name only on second reference

• Attribution in the middle

• Titles

Where does said go?

• Always group “said” and the name together

• Normally it goes after the name…

• Unless there is a longer title or more information

“We are going to catch this guy,” Police Chief Karen Bryce said.

“We are going to catch this guy,” said Karen Bryce, chief of police for the Salisbury Police Department.

Note-taking

• Recorders (ask permission) – STILL TAKE NOTES!

• Keep your ears open for good quotes

• Develop your own shorthand• Use key words and phrase you can understand

• Don’t be afraid to slow your subject or to ask him/her to repeat something

• Ask them to clarify their meaning

• Double-check spellings or other fact error possibilities

• Make eye contact when you can

• Don’t waste time writing things you won’t use verbatim

Sensitive issues

• No anonymous sources

• Don’t print anything off the record – try to speak only on the record

• Handle sensitive issues with care• Allow the source as much time as they need• Don’t push too hard• Come back to difficult questions later

• Don’t take their word for it – check their facts

announcements

• Homework due Thursday by 5 p.m.

• Tomorrow: finding stories & discussion of project one