Feature and Magazine Writing

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Feature and Magazine Writing

• Chapter 5

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KINDS OF INTERVIEWS

• Personal Good quotes, accurate description,
  insight into issues/ individuals
• Telephone Dis. Cant see interviewee, cant
  describe him/her, cant establish rapport. Work
  on phone manners, verbal reinforcement
• Group Better than no interview at all. Everyone
  may want to answer, or answers may be tainted.
  Code notebook, ascertain quotes, voice record,
  arrange to make contact later

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KINDS OF INTERVIEWS

• Extended
• Electronic If unable to reach source other ways.
  Written list of questions. Be professional. Write
  like a business letter. Links to your published
  work. Use subject heading.
• Disad cant establish rapport, source can
  ignore or be unresponsive to your questions, no
  opportunity for clarification or elaboration

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INTERVIEW GUIDELINE

• Asking for Many people are wary of the press.
  Explain quickly and clearly who you are, why you
  want the interview, how much time will you need.
  Ask for enough time to complete the interview.
  Allow more time in your schedule in case
  interview goes beyond. Remember no one (but
  govt.) owes you an interview. But interviewee
  can benefit too.

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INTERVIEW GUIDELINE

• When and Where Delays in scheduling interviews
  are common. Use common friend. Will not want to
  offend. See you as reliable. If reluctant, find
  out whats bothering. Correct it if possible. Ex
  send story sample. Plan location
• How to Dress Appropriate to interview
• How to Research Find/ Verify information

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INTERVIEW GUIDELINE

• How to Present Yourself make friends. First
  four minutes sets tone for rest. Sizing you up.
• Appearance Dress appropriately.
• Body language (friendly head nod, threatening
  blank stare, lazy slouch, alert posture)
• Voice/ word choice Soften voice, good grammar

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CARNEGIES TECHNIQUES

• Be interested in your subject
• Smile while you talk and listen
• Use interviewees name correctly
• Be a good listener
• Talk in terms of the other persons interests and
  with the other persons terminology
• Make interviewee feel important, pay attention

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CONDUCTING INTERVIEW

• Open-Ended Allows respondent broad range in
  answer. If question is unfocused, answer is
  useless
• Closed Question Asks for a more narrow reply
• Probe Question Asks for amplification of an
  unresponsive or incomplete answer
• Mirror Question By repeating part of the answer,
  forces respondent to amplify answer. Gives you
  time to finish writing original answer. Slows
  down respondent. Clarify quote

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CONDUCTING INTERVIEW

• Yes/ No Question Useless for feature writer
• Leading Question Considered unethical
• Loaded Question Designed to antagonize an
  interviewee, is equally manipulative
• Hypothetical Query Allows interviewee to think
  about and comment on coming development

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ROBERTSTONS TIPS

• Writers personality sets tone for interview
• Keep your ego out of the interview
• Listen dont keep talking
• Dont interrupt if answer is not going way you
  want, unless you dont have time, must end
• Assume nothing. For example, spelling
• Dont be ashamed to say I dont understand
• Ask difficult questions at end, easy ones first

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ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINE

• For-Direct Quotation Whatever subject tells you
  can be used as a direct quote, a partial quote or
  an indirect quote. Unless advised.
• Not-For-Direct Quotation Identify source and
  repeat quote, but not within quotation mark
• Not-For-Attribution Quotation Forces you to
  connect a quote to a generalized source. Also
  called background attribution, is less credible

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ATTRIBUTION GUIDELINE

• Deep Background Often refers to information
  given to a writer on the basis that it not be
  attributed to the source in any way. Usually
  writer can get another source to corroborate
  background information, then can attribute that
  information to the new source.
• Off-The-Record Worst category. Where you promise
  not to reveal either information or source. Some
  subjects demand to see story

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GATHERING MATERIAL

• Note-Taking Tips even if you are a careful
  listener, will miss 50 of what speaker says. Use
  correct tools good pad, some shorthand. Be
  inconspicuous as possible.
• Tape-recorder technique use good one. Small.
  Recording indicator. Check working. Counter cues
  to locate specific segments. Warning signal if
  out of memory or tape. Also take notes if
  recording on phone, obey state law

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GATHERING MATERIAL

• Fixing Quotes What do you do when you encounter
  poor grammar, off-color remarks or inaccuracies?
  Should that go into the story?
• Grammar depends on person/ language/story
  (commercial fur trapper or high school teacher?).
  
• Off-color leave it out. Leave out inaccurate if
  you cant go back to source

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GATHERING MATERIAL

• Description Keen observation. Sometimes
  participation. Physical descriptions can be
  risky. Can also be described by other people.
  Style of language can provide description. Mental
  processes (through extensive interviews). How he
  responds to situations too.
• Closing the Session if no time, explain time has
  been up and you have another appointment. Say you
  may have questions, contact later

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Tips

• Act naturally
• Be prepared
• Have questions ready.
• Be ready to ask questions not prepared for
• Appointments/ spontaneous
• Look up/ take notes
• Spell names/ pronounce names correctly

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Tips

• Double-check dates
• Start with easy questions first
• Ask open-ended questions later
• Restrict yes/ no questions
• Dont argue over answers
• Do not promise first draft
• Ask for a follow-up phone call/email
• Look around you (book shelves)

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Tips

• Observe non-verbals
• Check some statements with other sources

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Sample questions

• Whats so important about ?
• How does this () affect ?
• What effect does this () have on ?
• How do you feel about ?
• What was the most important/ defining moment of
  your life?
• How would you complete the following sentence ?s

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G.O.S.S

• G What are/have been your goals ?
• O What obstacles have you faced/ overcome?
• S What are your greatest accomplishments?
• S Have the interviewee go back to

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Important questions

• Can you explain that to me?
• How do you feel about ?
• Can you be more specific?
• Please explain that in laymans terms
• Have I missed anything?
• Is there anything you would like to add?
• Can you please repeat that?