Many writers need to interview sources. The first step is landing the interview. Be professional and confident. Always treat your work as a professional endeavor. Don’t forget to thank those you interview. Always leave a good and lasting impression.
Here are some specific tips to make the interview process a successful one.
Tip 1. Once you have landed an interview, follow with a written release. Covering yourself legally is a big step toward professionalism. It’s always important to have your source sign one. Simple releases are available on many web sites. Search for “interview release form” to find samples. This legal document is essential for conducting interviews.
Tip 2. Be sure you know what you want to accomplish from the interview. Write out all the questions beforehand. It is also a nice touch to offer them to your source before commencing the interview.
Tip 3. Do your research. Don’t show up to an interview with questions that are easily available with quick online searches. Research will help you ask the best questions.
Tip 4. Consider recording all interviews. Phone services such as Audio Acrobat are an easy way to record phone interviews. Skype also has an easy way to record phone conversations. For in-person interviews, bring a friend to take notes, or use your phone to record the conversation.
Tip 5. An honest conversation will organically lead to information gold, but you also want to have a specific direction. Practice your questions by recording and listening to them. Strike a balance for your interview between purposeful guidance and honest candor. The more natural you are, the more the stage will be set for your source to open up instead of offering only sound bytes.
Tip 6. Show up early to the interview, and keep to your schedule. Busy professionals appreciate your ability to work within a specific timeframe. Don’t be afraid to be single-minded about a point. Also, do not stop taking notes as the interview winds down. Many interviewees loosen up at the informal time at the end of an interview, and you will often get your best information then.
Tip 7. Be sure to place all direct quotes in quotation marks or larger blocks in italics. Summarized information should be acknowledged but not placed in quotes. Your source should always have the opportunity to review your article before it is published. Check style guides for proper formatting of interview entries in a bibliography.