The prospect of being interviewed creates anxiety for some sources. Their nervousness will interfere with their ability to answer questions in a natural manner. To reduce the anxiety, re- porters conduct interviews in places where sources are comfortable and will talk freely, usually their homes or offices.
Newsrooms are poor places for interviews. They are noisy and chaotic. News sources unfamiliar with newsrooms may find them intimidating.
Reporters should also avoid luncheon appointments. Although the idea of a leisurely inter-view over lunch sounds pleasant, restaurants have several drawbacks as interview locations. Crowd noise and interruptions from waiters may interfere with the conversation. Reporters who interviews may find that the background noise drowns out the interview Lunch itself will distract both reporter and news source. Also, reporters or their news organizations should pay for lunch to avoid any appearance that they can be influenced by a generous source. Thus, the practice of interviewing people over lunch can become expensive.
Reporters conduct many interviews by telephone. Telephone calls save enormous amounts “me, since reporters do not have to drive to a source’s home or office, wait until the source is conduct the interview, then drive back to their offices. Telephone interviews are fine for reporters who have a few brief questions for each of several news sources or who have to cover a breaking news story, such as a crime or a disaster, on deadline.
Experienced reporters wear telephone headsets, keeping their hands free to type notes directly to a computer as they interview their sources. Some sources become upset when they the clicking of the keyboard and realize that reporters are typing everything they say; they begin to speak more cautiously or try to end the interview. If a source cannot be soothed, re-porters can take notes more quietly in longhand. Sources used to dealing with reporters become accustomed to the noise.
Despite their advantages, telephone calls are an unsatisfactory means of conducting interviews about controversial or complex issues and personalities. It is difficult to cultivate -sources known only by telephone and never seen face-to-face. Sources are reluctant to talk I long time and to answer questions about embarrassing or personal matters. Thus, telephone interviews tend to be brief and superficial. If reporters want to conduct longer, in-depth interviews, they must visit the source in person.
