Questioning

Asking someone questions for a newspaper story is a special skill.

It may resemble a conversation but it is not one. Questioning for news papers has one purpose; to collect information, especially details and not as some reporters think--to get a few quotes. Whether conducting the interview over the phone or in person, you should be scripted and prepared for unexpected answers.

• Always ask follow up questions.

• An interview can become a long pedantic affair. It is not up to you to tell the subject what you think of them, or show off your knowledge.

• A lot of interviewing is perfectly straightforward, but there are two particular situations that can be trouble; questioning some one who is reluctant to talk, or questioning those who are allusive and hostile.

• Before starting to question someone you first have to get them to agree to talk. You then have to do all you can to keep them in the right frame of mind.

• DON'T CALL IT AN INTERVIEW. For most people the word "interview" conjures visions of being interrogated (like being questioned by the police) or being formally interviewed for a job. So don't use the "I" Word. Say you'd like to chat, pick their brains, hear about their experiences, learn something from them, don't say you want to interview them, because this makes a lot of people very, very nervous.

• Get them to want to help you! You're at a party, you meet someone, they seem like your kind of person and you start talking-- you are interested in them and what they have to say. Do not come onto the subject with an "I am a reporter" attitude. remember, your job is to get people to want to help you. You must always seem interested.

• You must also get past the gatekeepers. Gatekeepers are people like secretaries, personal assistants- people who control access to your interview subject and what they say.

• Approach them friendly and introduce yourself by your first name. Get their first name as well and use it when calling them back. This will establish a relationship and make them willing to assist you.They will view you as an actual human being. Sometimes they are determined to protect his/her boss from the outside world. You don't want to be that pest from the paper.