How to Interview a Source!

By Kenzie Smith

The relationship between interviewer and interviewee is a tricky one. They are inherently interdependent, as the journalist needs the expert source to provide credible information and the source often needs the journalist to publicize their thoughts and findings accurately; but the two can clash. A lack of a common ground can prevent the forging of mutual respect, miscommunications about information can lead to misrepresentation, and, in some cases, the subjectivity of journalism can interfere with the objectivity of the topic. So how do we, as journalists, approach the daunting task of interviewing a source?

First, one has to determine who they will be interviewing. Different sources can provide different viewpoints, so it is important to ensure one is interviewing a diverse set of people that have knowledge of the subject, from personal accounts of those affects to experts who study the topic, in order to provide a balanced portrayal of the topic (Dear and Scott 2014).

Once the interview is set, Bob Wyss emphasises the importance of trust between the interviewer and interviewee. “… A reporter should begin by providing clear identification, explaining the purpose of the interview and the plans for the story” (Wyss 2018). Being upfront about the reason for the interview will not only acclimate the source, but it will also help to establish a relationship based on mutual understanding.

It is also of paramount importance that the interviewer conducts some preliminary research, prior to the interview itself (Wyss 2018). Just as one wouldn’t want to show up for a test without having studied, showing up to an interview without a basic understanding of the topic or the source’s previous work will negatively impact the final product.

The final, and arguably the most important piece of advice from Wyss is to listen. “Ask short questions, expect long answers” (Wyss 2018). It is not good practice to launch into a second question as soon as the source has finished answering the first. I’ve seen the tactic of silence used a number of times, both in professional interviewing settings and in everyday conversation, and all with incredible success. I was interviewed for a sociology capstone study in which the researcher remained silent for a large portion of the interview. The long pauses made me feel obligated to continue.

Gavin Presman, a sales expert, remarked in an interview with Lennox Morrison from Worklife that he often uses this strategy to close deals. “We often think that silence is people simply not speaking…But it allows both people to settle down and reflect a bit deeper.” (Morrison 2017).  A small break in the conversation can provide the opportunity for the source to fill in more details or continue talking about a related topic that might not have been explicitly asked.

Any journalist can ask a source some questions, but only a good journalist can utilize an interview to improve their story. Using these tips and techniques can help to ensure a successful interview, and add to the effect of the overall story. 

Source

Dear, J. and F. Scott. 2014. Who gets the Spotlight pages 177-202. The Responsible Journalist. 

Morrison, L. Jul18, 2017. The subtle power of uncomfortable silences. BBC Worklife. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170718-the-subtle-power-of-uncomfortable-silences

Wyss, B. 2018. Covering the Environment : How Journalists Work the Green Beat. Routledge. New York, New York, USA.