Interviewing in journalism
Interviewing in journalism is a focused dialogue between a journalist and an interviewee, aimed at extracting information, insights, or opinions for dissemination through various media channels. This practice, although integral to modern journalism, only gained prominence in the late 19th century, evolving from earlier forms of reporting that primarily recounted events and speeches without direct questioning. Historically, interviews were initially viewed negatively, particularly in the United States, as they were seen as intrusive, but their acceptance grew over time, especially as they began to shape public opinion during significant events like World War I.
Today, interviews can take various forms, from structured sit-downs to on-the-go interactions, and they play a crucial role in enhancing the depth and credibility of journalistic content. Successful interviewing relies on thorough preparation, including research on both the topic and the interviewee, as well as the ability to ask relevant questions while actively listening for additional insights. Contemporary journalists often utilize recording devices for accuracy, a stark contrast to earlier practices where note-taking during interviews was avoided. Being interviewed can also be an intimidating experience for subjects, necessitating their own preparation to articulate responses effectively. Overall, interviewing is a vital tool for journalists to convey diverse perspectives and build a connection with their audiences.
Interviewing in journalism
Interviewing in journalism is a directed conversation between two individuals in which one, the journalist, asks questions of the other for the purpose of gaining facts, statements, or other information. This information is then generally shared via some form of media, such as television, newspapers, magazines, or the internet. The person being interviewed is usually a public figure, subject matter expert, witness to an event, or a person with a relevant opinion—for example, a potential voter in an upcoming election. Even though interviewing is the basis for most journalism in the twenty-first century, the practice was all but unheard of until the late nineteenth century.
Background
Some forms of journalism, such as news sheets containing transcripts of important speeches, have existed since before the Common Era. The development of the printing press in 1440 gave rise to the world’s first newspapers as collections of unrelated stories. Newspapers and other periodicals grew in popularity in the early 1600s. Throughout the Age of Enlightenment in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, this form of journalism continued to grow. It also evolved from merely reporting what others said and did to adding aspects of critical thinking and presenting arguments for and against various positions. This allowed journalism and published periodicals to play a key role in numerous historic events, including the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution.
One key aspect of contemporary journalism was missing from these earlier publications: journalists did not ask questions. They would report what people said or what they saw at an event. They might collect and record quotes from speeches or written public statements. However, they did not interview people.
This changed in the 1820s, when newspapers in larger cities began hiring reporters specifically to look for and follow up on local news stories. This became a staple of many publications by the 1840s. Reporters began asking additional questions to gain more information. However, historians have been unable to agree on the date and circumstances of the first interview. Some say New York Herald founder, editor, and publisher James Gordon Bennett Sr. conducted the first interview in 1836, while others give that credit to New York Tribune editor and publisher Horace Greeley in 1859.
One thing that is certain is that the practice was not seen favorably at first, and by the end of the 1860s, journalistic interviews were widely criticized as offensive and inappropriate inquisitions. Initially, the practice was seen as a uniquely American violation of polite behavior, and news outlets in other countries did not conduct any interviews. It was only as decades passed and American journalists interviewed international figures such as Roman Catholic popes and foreign presidents that news staffs in other countries began to reconsider the practice. The way American World War I correspondents were able to sway public opinion using information gathered in interviews helped reporters from Britain and other European countries see interviewing in a different light and the practice began to spread.
Early journalistic interviews were conducted in a different manner than contemporary interviews. One main difference is that early journalists had no voice recording equipment and almost never used a notebook and pencil to document information gleaned during an interview. It was thought that writing during the interview would be perceived as rude, become a distraction, or perhaps make the interviewee more guarded in answering. Instead, journalists would simply listen during interviews, then write down everything they could recall later. Another key difference was that the journalist would frequently submit their recollection of the interview to the interviewee for review before publication. This sometimes resulted in the interviewee changing, retracting, or even refusing to allow the information to be published. In modern times, journalists rarely permit interview subjects to preview articles or quotes.
Overview
In the nearly two centuries since the first journalistic interview, the practice of a reporter asking questions has become a staple of all forms of journalism. Entire articles, television broadcasts, and specialized forms of journalism such as podcasts are often centered solely on a reporter asking questions of a subject. Smaller excerpts of interviews feature prominently in many other examples of written and broadcast journalism. The journalistic interview is the primary method used by most reporters to gather information, share and shape opinions, and allow the context, culture, and personality of the interview subject to be conveyed. Contrary to the early negative opinions of interviews, they are now an accepted and even preferred method for the public, who often see interviews as providing a more direct source of information without the filter of interpretation by a journalist.
Although interviews are at their heart a conversation, they involve much more than a reporter simply sitting down to talk to someone. The interviewing journalist is digging for information. The approach to this will be different in different situations. For example, a journalist doing a story about a woman who rescues puppies will dig for information in a different way than the reporter interviewing a controversial political candidate. In addition to asking different types of questions, the puppy rescuer interview will most likely take on a more conversational approach, while the interview with the politician would likely involve more pointed questions and repeated probing to get answers.
In any case, the purpose of the journalistic interview is to gain information the interviewer wants, preferably in quotable statements directly from the subject. Good quotes are important because they add interest, depth, and credibility to the article or broadcast. Quotes allow readers or the audience to learn from the interview subject in their own words.
Conducting Interviews
The basic steps of conducting an interview are not complicated, but they can take years of experience to master. Like so many things, the process becomes easier with practice. Preparation is key to a successful interview. This is the case whether the interview will be conducted in a sit-down meeting, by phone or electronic media, or in an on-the-go man-on-the-street style of interview. Researching beforehand to have a basic understanding of the story topic is important. The journalist needs to know what the basic story is about to ask intelligent, relevant questions. It is also a key factor in choosing an appropriate interview subject.
Once the interview subject has been chosen, the journalist arranges a time and place for the interview. When possible, it helps to know the basic background of the subject. This avoids wasting valuable interview time asking questions about the subject’s education, experience, etc. It also helps prevent the interviewer from asking any awkward or embarrassing questions.
Prepare a list of questions to ask in advance. Once a few pleasantries are exchanged to set the tone and establish a connection, begin with the most important of these questions. The questions should cover the journalistic necessities of who, what, when, where, why, and how, but should be focused on the subject’s area of expertise and/or the reason they are being interviewed. At the same time, the interviewer should be actively listening to identify opportunities for related questions not on the original list. It is not generally considered necessary or acceptable to give a subject the questions in advance.
In addition to prepared questions, the journalist should be prepared with a method to record the interview. Early journalists did not use notebooks or recorders, but they are expected of contemporary journalists. Test all equipment beforehand, and have backups where possible; for example, a smart phone recording app in addition to a portable voice recorder, and multiple pens.
During the interview, the journalist should take whatever steps are necessary to keep the conversation on track and achieve the ultimate objective of gaining information. It is the journalist’s responsibility to be aware of the interview time frame and to respect it. This might mean redirecting a conversation when the subject has wandered to an unrelated topic. It can also mean repeating questions with additional insistence if the subject dodges an important point. Through all this, the journalist should remain as professional and in control as possible.
After the interview, most journalists review and/or transcribe their notes, then prepare their article or broadcast, making sure to correctly attribute the information gathered from each interviewee. It is considered common courtesy to reach out to thank the interview subject whenever possible. This is also a good opportunity to let them know when the article or broadcast will appear.
Being Interviewed
Being asked to be the subject of a media interview can seem like a daunting prospect. As in conducting an interview, the key is preparation. Attempt to anticipate the questions that might be asked and give some thought to the answers. These can be rehearsed, but not to the point of memorizing them so they seem robotic or forced. It is also helpful to think of areas that might come up that one does not want to speak about and prepare a polite but firm response to set that boundary. Finally, just before the interview, the subject might take some time to focus and relax to achieve a calm mindset.
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