Interviews
Good interviews depend on two skills;
1. Good operation of recording equipment
2. Sensible questioning
Good interviews sound like unscripted chats. Don't write long lists of questions. Write a few questions and key ideas.
Listen to the answers. If the interviewee says something of great interest, help to develop the interviewee's thinking by asking supplementary questions.
Questions should be simple and straightforward.
Ask questions one at a time. Do not ask multiple questions, as this causes confusion and a loss of the train of thought.
Often the most important and common questions asked begin with Who? Why? When? How? Where? What?
Avoid asking closed questions. John Humphries demonstrated the uselessness of these, when interviewing the writer of the Bill and Ben stories.
Do your research to avoid embarrassment and getting clichéd answers.
Nod silently to encourage the interviewee, but do not speak. This may lead to hearing the interviewer's voice over the interviewees and makes it difficult to edit.
Always be polite and in control. The interviewer needs to guide the interview.
In order to balance the need to produce a conversation vs. the amount of editing required, a great deal of practice is needed. Also sitting down helps and makes you feel comfortable. Not allowing the interviewee to lead the conversation too much is also a must. If this is not achieved, then the interviewee may get lost in the conversation, find something else to say or make the conversation sound to rehearsed.
The interviewer should not give questions in advance, if this is insisted, then just send a few topics that will be covered, rather than full questions.
Try to develop the confidence to keep eye contact.
Vox Pops are general public interviews. They are the voice of the people. Background noise is acceptable here, to capture different backgrounds, people and voices. Vox pops are not intended to be representative or scientific. Never ask 'do you mind if I conduct an interview? This only gives them the option of saying no.
Good interviews depend on two skills;
1. Good operation of recording equipment
2. Sensible questioning
Good interviews sound like unscripted chats. Don't write long lists of questions. Write a few questions and key ideas.
Listen to the answers. If the interviewee says something of great interest, help to develop the interviewee's thinking by asking supplementary questions.
Questions should be simple and straightforward.
Ask questions one at a time. Do not ask multiple questions, as this causes confusion and a loss of the train of thought.
Often the most important and common questions asked begin with Who? Why? When? How? Where? What?
Avoid asking closed questions. John Humphries demonstrated the uselessness of these, when interviewing the writer of the Bill and Ben stories.
Do your research to avoid embarrassment and getting clichéd answers.
Nod silently to encourage the interviewee, but do not speak. This may lead to hearing the interviewer's voice over the interviewees and makes it difficult to edit.
Always be polite and in control. The interviewer needs to guide the interview.
In order to balance the need to produce a conversation vs. the amount of editing required, a great deal of practice is needed. Also sitting down helps and makes you feel comfortable. Not allowing the interviewee to lead the conversation too much is also a must. If this is not achieved, then the interviewee may get lost in the conversation, find something else to say or make the conversation sound to rehearsed.
The interviewer should not give questions in advance, if this is insisted, then just send a few topics that will be covered, rather than full questions.
Try to develop the confidence to keep eye contact.
Vox Pops are general public interviews. They are the voice of the people. Background noise is acceptable here, to capture different backgrounds, people and voices. Vox pops are not intended to be representative or scientific. Never ask 'do you mind if I conduct an interview? This only gives them the option of saying no.
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