The Art of the Interview

Asking questions is part of our job -- that's why we're journalists. We get paid to ask questions. We get to find answers to what people at home are wondering. We get to hold the powerful accountable. We get to hear from witnesses. We get to see history as and when it happens. We get to hear personal stories to inspire change. No matter the interview (live on air, packages, digital/email), there are ways to get a "great story" from what could be a regular, mundane interview. So whether it's a city council meeting, a victim's personal angle or a celebrity's inside story, here are a few useful interview tips for you:

DO

• YOUR HOMEWORK
• TALK TO THE GUEST BEFORE YOU ARE LIVE TO EASE THEM
• ASK TOUGH AND FAIR QUESTIONS AND GET REACTION NOT JUST FACTS
• PIQUE YOUR OWN CURIOSITY
• HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM
• REPHRASE AND REPEAT A QUESTION IF NEEDED ESPECIALLY IF THEY AVOID IT
• USE HUMOR TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE
• COVER THE BASICS WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW
• ASK WHAT'S NEXT, WHAT ELSE TO ADD, HOW DO THEY FEEL, WHAT SOLUTIONS, WHO BENEFITS, A PERSONAL STORY, HOW IT WORKS?
• KEEP YOUR AUDIENCE IN MIND - YOUR JOB IS TO INFORM THEM
• ONE QUESTION AT A TIME
• KEEP THE QUESTIONS SHORT AND SWEET 

DON'T

• SEND ADVANCE QUESTIONS
• ASK YES OR NO QUESTIONS (AVOID DO YOU BELIEVE OR DO YOU THINK)
• ASSUME THE VIEWER KNOWS IT ALL
• PRETEND TO KNOW OR BE AN EXPERT
• BE AFRAID TO CLARITY (WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT -- HOW COULD THAT WORK)
• LOSE TRACK OF TIME CONSTRAINTS
• ASK A LAUNDRY LIST OF QUESTIONS -- TRANSITION FROM ONE POINT TO THE NEXT AND LISTEN TO YOUR INTERVIEW TO PEG OFF IDEAS
• ASK MULTIPLE QUESTIONS AT ONCE
• STRESS IF YOU STUMBLE