How To Conduct an Interview

Here's How:

1. Track down your subject. This could be as simple as walking next door and knocking or calling the office of a city official to ask for an interview. Famous people always have P.R. reps that set up their interviews; business people will often have their secretaries set up such appointments.
2. Identify yourself. And what is it you're writing about? You don't have to reveal potential scoops here, but be straightforward enough that the source can't later say you misled him.
3. If calling ahead, set a mutually acceptable time and place for the interview. If not meeting at the person's business, public places such as coffeehouses are best. If covering spot news, politely ask if the person can spare a few moments of his time to talk with you.
4. Ask the source if they wish to be quoted. If so, ask the source to spell his or her name. (Don't assume that "Smith" isn't spelled "Smyth.") PRINT this in your reporter's notebook, even if the rest of the interview is in scribbled shorthand. Spell the source's name back to him or her to make sure you got it right.
5. When asking a question, give the source room to breathe. Often you'll get your best quotes and information by not jumping to the next question, but letting the source carry on with his train of thought and expanding upon the question.
6. Don't be afraid to slow a source down. Better to ask the source to repeat himself than get the quote wrong.
7. Pick out the best quotes as you go. This is a learned skill. As you grow accustomed to interviewing people, your mind will pick out the noteworthy quotes, the key facts, the interesting details, and these are the things that will wind up in your notes. Remember, you might only use 10 percent of what a source says, or they might be the anchor for your story. You'll never know until you talk to them.
8. Referrals yield good stuff. Sometimes a source will tell you that he can't give you all the information that you need. Ask him who can. Get that name, get that number, get the information.
9. A bit of friendliness goes a long way. I think of one time when I knocked on a door near a crime scene, and the resident was very wary of talking to the press (as many involved in crime stories are, for fear of retribution). She let me as far as inside the front door. After I complimented her sofa, I was soon sitting on it, getting much more information from her than I could even use.
10. Be available for more. Sometimes sources will think of more later, and sometimes they have to cut interviews short. Always have business cards with your contact information. And be prepared to take a call or answer an e-mail at nearly any time.
11. Always say thank you. Your time is valuable, and so is theirs. Thank them for taking the time to speak with you.
12. Fill in the blanks. You might take notes so quickly that it's good to sit in your car, or rush back to your desk, and rapidly fill in some of the shorthand so there is no question in your mind later when you sit down to write.

What You Need:

• A spiral-bound reporter's notebook and pen
• Identification and a business card with contact information
• A tape recorder, if you and the subject are comfortable with it
• A digital camera, should a good image present itself
• A cell phone, to keep on top of appointment changes