As a journalist, you know that asking the right questions can make or break your interview. But what are the best types of questions to elicit insightful and engaging responses from professionals in media? Here are some tips on how to craft effective open-ended questions for different media formats and contexts.
Open-ended questions are those that invite the interviewee to elaborate, explain, or share their opinions, feelings, or experiences. They usually start with words like how, why, what, or tell me. They are useful for journalism because they can reveal the interviewee's perspective, motivation, challenges, and achievements. They can also generate more interesting and authentic stories than closed-ended questions, which only require a yes or no answer.
Open-ended questions are essential for interviewing professionals in the media industry because they encourage detailed, thoughtful responses and allow candidates to showcase their knowledge, experience, and creativity. In general, we can find out more about the person and person' opinion or attitude which can help us get the better overall image.
Before you prepare your questions, you need to have a clear idea of the purpose of your interview. Are you trying to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire your audience? Are you looking for facts, opinions, anecdotes, or advice? Are you covering a breaking news story, a feature story, a profile, or a review? Depending on your goal and genre, you may need to adjust your questions accordingly. For example, if you are writing a news story, you may need to ask more factual and specific questions, while if you are writing a feature story, you may need to ask more descriptive and emotional questions.
Another factor to consider is the format of your media. Are you conducting a print, audio, video, or online interview? Each format has its own advantages and limitations, and you may need to adapt your questions accordingly. For example, if you are conducting a print interview, you may need to ask more detailed and quotable questions, while if you are conducting a video interview, you may need to ask more visual and dynamic questions. You may also need to consider the length, tone, and style of your media, and how they affect the flow and structure of your interview.
The context of your interview refers to the setting, timing, and relationship between you and your interviewee. You may need to tailor your questions to suit the context of your interview. For example, if you are interviewing someone in a formal or professional setting, you may need to ask more respectful and polite questions, while if you are interviewing someone in an informal or casual setting, you may need to ask more relaxed and friendly questions. You may also need to consider the relevance, timeliness, and appropriateness of your questions, and how they relate to the current situation and interests of your interviewee and your audience.
The personality of your interviewee is another important factor to consider when crafting your open-ended questions. You may need to do some research or pre-interviewing to learn more about your interviewee's background, expertise, achievements, and preferences. You may also need to observe their body language, tone of voice, and level of engagement during the interview. Based on your findings, you may need to adjust your questions to suit their personality. For example, if your interviewee is shy or reserved, you may need to ask more gentle and supportive questions, while if your interviewee is confident or outspoken, you may need to ask more challenging and provocative questions.
The feedback of your interviewee is the final factor to consider when crafting your open-ended questions. You may need to listen carefully and attentively to their answers, and use them as cues to ask follow-up or clarifying questions. You may also need to use verbal and non-verbal signals to show your interest, appreciation, and empathy. You may also need to be flexible and adaptable, and modify or improvise your questions according to the direction and mood of the conversation. By doing so, you can build rapport and trust with your interviewee, and encourage them to share more information and stories with you.
What ethical considerations do you think media professionals should keep in mind, and how do you address them in your work and What advice would you give to someone starting their career in media, based on your own experiences?