Interviews are pivotal to any kind of journalistic article. I always thought that it was the quotes and not the writer that write a good story. Depending on what you are writing about, it is important to try to find the best sources possible. Sources need to be knowledgable and have at least something interesting to say about your topic. Mediocre sources make for mediocre stories.

I remember being intimidated walking into an interview. I always thought that I was taking away from my interviewee’s busy day. I wasn’t sure if I would get what I needed. To reduce these stressors, you need to engage in your topic. Show your interviewee that you understand that their time is important and that you appreciate their cooperation.

The key to interviewing is simple: Research, research, research! As a reporter, you should be knowledgable about your topic, even if you don’t want to or don’t care about what you are writing. You don’t want to look dumb in front of anyone because you didn’t do any research.

Writing out questions before an interview is important. They help you stay on track and hit key points in an interview. But, as a reporter, you should not rely solely on written questions. Be prepared to think on your feet. Your sources may have something interesting to say that you didn’t anticipate, and you might have more questions about it. Ask them! The more you get from your sources, the better. Also, it shows your interviewee that you are actually listening to them and are interested in what they have to say.

For those reporters who are somewhat shy, like myself, you just need to remember that these people are just people. They want to help you out and you need to show them that you can be in control of your story.

Although I dreaded interviews in the beginning, they have become one of my favorite steps in writing a story. There are so many things to learn about and so many interesting people to talk to. I already can’t wait to get to know them!

Good luck interviewing!