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History Feature
Writing |
An interview about
interviewing Let's begin with the obvious question: What is an interview? First and foremost, an interview is a conversation -a conversation captured on paper or on tape, so that others who are removed in time or space from that conversation nevertheless have the privilege of participating in it. So let it "sound" like a conversation, not a "frequently asked questions" sheet. Conversations are incarnational. So interviews should be, too. You're not just trying to uncover information, you're attempting to reveal the person behind the information. People read and watch interviews because people are fascinated by people. What's different about interviewing for church-related media? Interviewing for a church-related publication or program puts an added dimension into what you do as an interviewer: the spiritual one. As you're talking with someone, try to keep focused on discovering where God is in their life and work, and how they embody the Gospel in what they're doing or saying. You don't have to be explicit-it's probably too ham-fisted in most cases to ask "and where was God in this for you?" -but bear it in mind, as you ask your questions. Bill Moyers is a master at this; get a copy of his A World of Ideas books to see how he does it. How do you prepare for an interview? Well, I tend to read everything I can get my hands on about my subject. Just a few years ago, that would have consisted mostly of books and magazines. Now, I jump on the Internet and in minutes I've assembled information that it would have taken weeks to get in the past. The downside of researching on the Internet is that you have to be a lot more careful of your sources. There are a lot of weird web sites out there. You can do too much research. I've made the mistake of going into interviews knowing more about the topic at hand than the person I'm interviewing, which can be embarrassing for both of you. Or else they're so happy to talk to someone who's knowledgeable about their favorite subject that you both get off into some esoteric tangent and forget that your reader or viewer wants to learn something besides how smart you both are! Remember your audience, and respect your audience. What would they want to know if they were encountering this person or topic for the first time? Do your research, then tuck it in the back of your mind in case you need it to clarify or even challenge something your interviewee says. Are there different kinds of interviewing? Oh, yes! You may be doing a profile of someone, and that's going to require a more in-depth kind of questioning about their motivations for what they're doing-what are they really like? You want anecdotes, reflections. If it's a "hard news" interview about a hot issue, you're going to want more analysis, more detail. If they're reticent, you're going to have to have some details in your back pocket to refresh their memory, so to speak. Do you write out your questions? Sometimes, if the topic is very technical, or I'm aware that the way I phrase the question may influence the answer. But it may be just as effective to jot down ideas you don't want to forget to cover. The conversation is more spontaneous that way. Another way to make sure the conversation is more natural if you're interviewing for print is to tape and then transcribe. A lot of the old-timers will scoff at that, but most print reporters I know take a small tape recorder on assignment as well as taking notes. That way if there's any dispute about what was said, they have the tape to back it up. Don't think for a minute that church folks can't be as wily as anyone in claiming they were "misquoted" when they get into hot water for a statement! Without a tape, it's your word against theirs. It also helps you get a feel for their speech patterns, their rhythm. You don't want every interview to sound like you've been talking to the same person over and over, just about different things. Don't forget to get those basic details. Make sure you walk away with an answer to the classic five "W's": who, what, when, where, why. I always begin by asking their name and how they wish to be identified for the story, and I always end by asking if there's anything they'd like to add that we haven't touched on. I've gotten some of my best material that way. And have fun! Interviewing can be one of the most grace-filled things you get to do as a journalist, connecting with people and ideas on a one-to-one level. So enjoy yourself. It'll show in your interviews.
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