Conducting an interview is a part of a journalist’s job. It is the basis of travel journalism. Sometimes journalist’s job. It is the basis of travel journalism. Sometimes journalists have to interview localites, foreign ambassadors, eye witnesses to an incident, VIPs etc. In all such interviews, the interviewer has to travel to places rather than call the interviewee to the studio. That is why interviews are a part of travel journalism.
Following are points needed to be kept in mindwhile conducting an audio or video interview:-
- Do extensive research and prepare questions – It is important to plan before the interview what one wants to get out of it. He/she should have the foresight to know the probable result of the interview. This is possible when the interviewer has done research on the subject and prepared questions to be asked.
- Proper location for interview – Interview should be conducted according to the subject’s relevance. This will make the interviewee comfortable and provide better result for the interviewer.
- Medium of conversation – The medium of conversation should be comfortable to the subject. Moreover the interviewer should make an effort to keep the interview as a discussion so that it appears like a conversation.
- Keep the flow running – It is important that an interviewee should know the skill to keep the conversation going towards the pre-determined result using the answers of the subject rather than asking questions straight from the paper. This would look more like an act and make the interviewee uncomfortable. Also the interviewer should not change the topic of discussion with every successive question. The transition from one to the other topic should be gradual.
- Emphasis on a question until fully satisfied – The interviewer should repeat or revisit a question if he/she thinks it has not been answered satisfactorily. This happens when an interviewee is sensitive to certain issues, but emphasis should be made until the question is fully answered. The aim of the interview is to get the subject’s opinion, rather than hide it.
- Maintain in-between silence – It is necessary to maintain few seconds of silence in-between the answer and next question just in case the interviewee wants to explain their answer more.
Article writing technique is important for a journalist, but developing interview technique is mandatory in this occupation.
26 Comments. Leave new
a very informative article..good job!!
Well explained
Conducting interview in a proper way can get proper employee for proper job..,,
Thats good.. It helps especially student journalists and non-professional ones who publish their organisation magazine or college magazine..
Thanks Stephy.
🙂 nice
Helpful, going to be cautious of every point next time in an interview.
Thanks for commenting. I am happy you found the article helpful.
Nice article. Also one of the important skills of a good interviewer is to be impromptu, quick-thinking and spontaneous.
Yes, definitely Ria. Thanks for adding on these points.
One of the best advises. Well done.
Thanks Divya.
Good Compliation of Information 😀
Bang on target Anirudh! Good comment. Thanks
Nice!!
nice compilation of “points to remember” while going to conduct an interview
Very helpful…good work:);)
“Proper location for interview”–
In this….what exactly u have explained…!
I find it smthing weird that u r saying SUBJECTS as LOCATION FOR INTERVIEW….
…????
Hi Monika. The word is not ‘subjects’ rather subject’s’. here I am referring subject as the interviewee. A journalist should keep the location for the interview such that the interviewee/subject does not have problems in either travelling or comfort.
This article on how to conduct interview is basically how JOURNALISTS should conduct interview. This article does not pertain to how job interviews should be conducted.
Ok
Thanx for clearing my doubt akul 🙂
You’re welcome.
Very helpful. Nice article
I believe many readers are wrongly assuming this article as to how job interviews are conducted. Rather, this article pertains to how Press/media interviews should be conducted. Kindly read the article from journalism context.
Very useful!
would be very helpful in conducting a good interview !
the points are good 😀
Thanks Shubhangi. Thanks for appreciating and commenting.