A Simple Journalist Techniques for Effective Interviews

       An interview is formal meetings between two people (the interviewer and the interviewee) where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information, qualities, attitudes, wishes etc. A journalistic interview takes the form of a conversation between two or more people: interviewer(s) ask questions to elicit facts or statements from interviewee(s). Interviews are a standard part of journalism and media reporting. In journalism, interviews are one of the most important methods used to collect information, and present views to readers, listeners, or viewers.

     For effective interviews in Journalism, reporters prepare carefully, and they ask questions that induce the source to talk freely. Questions are directed at obtaining information on a theme that the reporter has in mind before beginning the interview. If a more important theme emerges, the reporter develops it.The Journalist notes what is said, how it is said and what is not said. Sources are encouraged by the reporter's gestures and facial expressions to keep talking.

 How The Journalist to Prepare For an Interview:

1.Do research on the interview topic and the person to be interviewed, not only so you can ask the right questions and understand the answers, but also so you can demonstrate to the interviewer that you have taken the time to understand the subject and also that you cannot easily be fooled.

2, Devise a tentative theme for your story. A major purpose of the interview will be to obtain quotes, anecdotes and other evidence to support that theme.

3. List question topics in advance ¾ as many as you can think of, even though you may not ask all of them and almost certainly will ask others that you do not list.

4. In preparing for interviews on sensitive subjects, theorize about what the person's attitude is likely to be toward you and the subject you are asking about, What is his or her role in the event? Whose side is he or she on? What kinds of answers can you logically expect to your key questions? Based on this theorizing, develop a plan of attack that you think might mesh with the person's probable attitude and get through his or her probable defenses.

       
        With the editor's guidance, the journalist managed to turn out an acceptable story.  This incident illustrates the four principles of interviewing:

1.      Prepare carefully, familiarizing yourself with as much background as possible.

2.      Establish a relationship with the source conducive to obtaining information.

3.      Ask questions that are relevant to the source and that induce the source to talk.

4.      Listen and watch attentively.

        For example you can see the following youtube shows  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eOynrI2eTM (Katie Couric on how to conduct a good interview)

      These are starting points only, not absolute rules. After a while, you will develop your own interviewing style. Zimmerman says, “Pick the techniques you think you can use and then practice them. Eventually, they'll become so natural you won't have to think about them.”. Thank you;)