Here are 10 ways a newbie journalist can ace their first interview

Scenario: You have just left your journalism school. You have performed fairly well in all subjects. But reporting on the field is a different story. When you are assigned your first interview, you suddenly don’t feel so prepared.?

Over the course of five years, I have taken numerous interviews. I have fumbled, appeared nervous and still stutter. But what I can guarantee is this- I got better at it every time.?

I personally find in-person interviews to be very rewarding. But since the pandemic happened, conversations have been isolated into rectangular screens.?

However, you can still make the best of your online interviewees as a newbie journalist. Here are some pointers to help you along the way:?

-???????Go Joe Goldberg lite on your interviewee

No, I don’t mean you physically start stalking them. The famed Netflix stalker protagonist Joe Goldberg did one thing very well- the guy knew how to research. And the inspiration should end there. If his talents were utilised correctly, in some world Joe would have been a pretty darn good journalist. But alas.?

Thus, you should thoroughly comb through their social media feeds and try to see what piques their interests. Don’t be overly zealous to include these in the interview. But just to know who you are talking to.?Read the interviews they gave earlier. It will help you learn what to expect.

-???????The Ice breaker

Don’t jump straight to talking about facts and figures or the purpose of the meeting. This is what I learnt in newsrooms. For God’s sake, a talk about the weather is a death knell for conversations.?

You can try this:

Are you in (so and so place)? Are you attending (so and so festival/book launch/concert). What are you working on? Or,

I found this article of yours interesting. This can be tailored according to their interests.?

And don’t fib. Read those articles you are talking about. Once, I started talking about a topic I didn’t know much about and my editor sniffed it out within a minute.?

-???????Be comfortable switching languages

While I was working with Times of India, I had to hire a translator since the interviewee spoke only Tamil. I always ask if they are comfortable in Hindi or English. Give questions to your translator.?

-???????Why so serious? Tone and authenticity

An editor of mine told me it is great to ‘sound serious’ as a journalist in audio meets, but when the face is not visible, your tone matters. Afterall there is a human behind that black mirror.?

However, there is only so much you can do about your tone. You can ask if it can be a video meet instead.?

-???????An introvert’s nightmare? Not really.

A bit more preparation is required for an introvert to do interviews. But listening is your superpower so use that! It is superb to listen rather than to blab. If you lost your track of thoughts, pause. Then repeat the question.?

Extroverts- don’t bulldoze your interviewee with your ‘enthusiasm’. Let them speak.?

-???????Adapt to their speaking style

I was shadowing one of the interviews and it was interesting to watch them. I noticed she was adapting according to the conversation style of the interviewee.?

I am not asking you be to fake. But it is also important to get them talking about things they are interested in. And later, start asking your questions when you feel you have established a rapport.?

-???????Switch on your phone recorder, Dictaphone, use notebooks?

It is essential you record the conversation on your phone recorder, laptop voice memos and even use notebooks for taking notes. Memory is notorious to trust and so is technology. When one fails, rely on the other. What you may have written in your notebook can be different from what was recorded on the phone.?

If they are calling you, I recommend switching on the call recorder so that they can’t backtrack on what they said. You would have proof.?

-???????Prepare questions beforehand and verify from your editor

We usually have a purpose behind every interview and this is the reason we need a questionnaire. So that we don’t wander off, getting lost in the conversation. A preset questionnaire helps you tick off the most important questions you need an answer for.?

Your editor can verify the questions you are asking. If any editor is available, ask them to hang around on the call and give you feedback later. This is called ‘shadowing’.?

-???????Throw the questionnaire away

I know this seems contradictory but it is important to also adapt to the flow of the conversation. Don’t be so stuck with the questionnaire that you forget actually tuning in with the interviewee.?

But spontaneity during interviews takes a lot of practice and I am still trying to build it. So, you can take it easy on this one for your first interview. Most importantly, even if they are a CEO or a celebrity, they are doing their job just as you are. And even if you end up doing or saying something embarrassing and you pray the earth swallows you whole, you will soon have another interview. And another chance.?