Peter Bradbury:

Basic interviewing
• Asking someone questions for a newspaper story is a special skill. It may at times resemble a conversation, but it is not one. It may at times be entertaining to overhear or participate in, but that is not its point.
• Questioning people for newspapers has one purpose: to collect information that is especially detailed and not, as some poor reporters think, to get a few quotes.
• Interviews are not scripted, so be prepared for unexpected answers.
• Interviews can be long and pedantic affairs, whilst you try and get the question you want answered or understand something.
• Interviews are not a time for you to tell officials what you think of them, show off your knowledge, or take part in a debate with your interviewee.
• Interviewing is quite straightforward, but there are two major implications.
1. Questioning those who are uneasy and reluctant to talk, and;
2. Questioning those who are elusive, evasive, or hostile.
Techniques to overcome these problems will be presented later on.

Guidelines involved in talking to your interviewee:
• Before approaching them for the interview, you have to get them to agree to talk
• Don’t call it an interview as this can may cause interviewee to be uneasy as the word reminds them of police and job interviews. Say you’d like to chat or learn something from them.
• Get them to want to help you:
• When interviewing, treat the interviewee as if you are talking to an interesting person at a party. Remain open, sunny and interested in both them and what they have to say.
• DO MORE LISTENING THAN TALKING!
• Do not come with an “I am a reporter attitude” as you want people to want to help you
The Gatekeeper
• Gatekeepers are those like secretaries, assistants and personal assistants who are determined to protect their boss from the outside world.
• Do not introduce yourself by saying “Hello my name is ________ and I am from_________ and I insist on talking with________.
• Be open and friendly and use your Christian name.
• Do not be specific on your interview topic. Be fairly vague so that the gatekeeper cannot say no to your topic.
• Try saying that ________ recommended your interviewee to you. Connections are important.

Research beforehand
• Research beforehand and know what you want to find out in the interview and know the final shape of what you want your story to be.
• Always carry a notebook to jot down quick notes.
• Do not be afraid to show ignorance, but ensure that you have researched adequately before the interview.
• Before the interview learn about the subject and other relevant information
• Let them know that they are talking to someone who takes them and their subject seriously
• Use simple questions (5W 1H). No trick or clever questions should be used.
In stories about events
• Build a step-by-step account of what happened. To do this, especially when the subject is shocked or traumatised, to take them slowly through the events.
1. First start with the last normal event
2. then take them slowly through what happened after that,
3. Make sure that they include the sights, sounds and smells that they felt in detail in the order that they occurred.
• By the end of your interview, make sure that you are able to picture the exact events in your head. If you can’t, how are you supposed to tell your readers what happened?