THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS
The Twelve Commandments are a list of religious and moral imperatives that, according to Judeo-Christian tradition, were authored by God and given to Moses on the mountain referred to as “Mount Sinai” How about the Twelve Commandments mentioned in the title?
Well, it is the ‘Decalogue’ that summarizes some valuable pointers to consider when conducting an interview. We have dubbed these as ‘The Twelve Commandments for Interviewers’
The Twelve Commandments for Interviewer
1. Thou shalt go to the place of interview fully prepared. Always be ready with good, relevant questions. Make sure you also know something about the topic or subject.
2. Thou shall be prompt. Arrive at the place of interview at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled time of appointment. Be the one to wait for your source. Never let him wait for you.
3. Thou shalt introduce thyself. You should immediately introduce yourself to your source. However, never flaunt your position in your paper or your credentials.
4. Thou shalt make thy source feel comfortable. It is your duty to “break the ice” and make sure that your source is comfortable with the environment. You may start with light conversations to prepare both of you for a more serious discussion.
5. Thou shalt prioritize thy questions. Make sure to ask the most important question first. This way, you are assured that you are able to get the spice of your story despite any constraints.
6. Thou shalt not argue with thy source. Remember that you are there to get answers, facts, and views for your story. Let your source do most of the talking. And listen attentively to him.
7. Thou shalt keep thy personal bias to thyself. If you have your own conviction regarding the issue at hand, just keep it to yourself. It is not your business to convince the source about what you consider as better perspectives.
8. Thou shalt be professional at all times. Even though you are familiar with your source, always draw the line between friendship and professionalism. Remember that he is there not as a friend but more as a resource person.
9. Thou shalt suffer/endure the interviewee. Even if your source bores or offends you or veers a away from the subjects, do not show your discomfort or show disrespect to your source. You may cut short the interview in a gentle and subtle way. And make sure to use proper excuses at this point.
10. Thou shalt be polite. Be respectful at all times. Use appropriate words and be careful with the way you ask your questions. Bear in mind that you are the one asking for a favor.
11. Thou shalt record the interview. You may use a tape recorder or just content yourself with shorthand. In either case, make sure that you do keep a reliable record of important notes. Also, remember to back up your audio recording with a written one to anticipate any technical glitch. Besides, it is better to be sure than sorry, right?
12. Thou shalt be grateful to thy source. At the end of the interview, do not forget to thank your source properly and adequately. You may also give out your own comments about him at this point. Do not resort to patronizing, though. Neither should you act as if you were a critic. If possible, present him with a token of gratitude.
An informal interview is the so-called ambush interview. Here, the reporter is said to catch the interviewee off guard. The reporter usually follows the news source, stops or confronts him, and then shoots questions.
Another example of informal interview is the telephone interview, in which the reporter obviously questions the source over the telephone.
Interviews have four stages that precede the writing of a story: arrangements, preparation, the actual interview, and the reconstruction.
- Arrangements – Spontaneous interviews, except in connection with breaking news, seldom contribute to thoroughness. Once you have decided to interview someone, call in advance to make an appointment. Identify yourself by your name and the name of the publication or affiliation. If you feel the need to do so or are asked to describe what the story is about, be brief and general. The shape of story might change as you continue your reporting.
If you are interviewing several persons in connection with your story, interview the principal persons last, because you will be better prepared based on what you learn from the earlier interviews.
- Preparation – Do as much research as possible in advance on the person and/or topic you are working on. Sources might included the library, public records, the internet, and people you know who can provide background information. Prepare and jot down your questions in advance and bring a copy to the interview. Refer your list of questions, but don’t show it to the interviewee, because it creates too formal an atmosphere. Ask other question as they might arise, based on what the interviewee on the spur of the moment.
Bring two pencils (or pens) and paper. A stenographer’s notebook is usually easier to handle than a large pad, but use whatever is comfortable. Bring a tape recorder if you can, but be sure to get the permission to use it from the person you are interviewing. You should also take notes, because it will help in the reconstruction phase, and tape recorders fail occasionally.
- The Actual Interview – It inadvisable to launch right into the interview unless you are only being given a few minutes. Some casual conversations to start with will relax both of you. Questions should be as short as possible, give the respondent time to answer. Be a good listener. If he prattles on, it is appropriate to move on as politely as you can. You might say something such as. “Fine, but let me ask you this… Try to draw out specifics: How long, how many, when, etc..?
- Reconstruction – As soon as it is practical after the interview, find a quiet place to review your handwritten notes. In your haste while taking notes, you may have written abbreviations for words that wont mean anything to you a day or two later. Or some of your scribbling may need deciphering, and again, it is more likely you’ll be better able to understand the scribbles soon after the interview.
The quote you wrote down might not make a lot of sense, unless you remember what specific question it was responded to. In short, fill in whatever gaps exist in your notes that will help you better understanding them in writing.
Three types of stories can be generated out of an interview
- Factual Stories – Here the reporter tries to draw out the opinion of people on a topic of current importance. He tries to fish information from sources who are knowledgeable about the issue at hand.
- Feature of Personality Stories – Here the interview look into the intimate details about a celebrity, a politician, a movie star, an inventor, an awardee, or any other interesting personality.
- Biographical Stories – Here the story deals with lives of prominent individuals. Biographical sketches are usually long. However, you can spice them up so as not to bore your readers.
Even in school, the need for conducting an interview comes up, especially when you are to make a story or report requires hard facts or various perspectives.
Meanwhile, as you write the interview report or article, make sure you accomplish the following:
- Inform your teacher about your purpose for conducting the interview.
- Provide any necessary background material on the person interviewed or his/her area of specialization.
- Present the salient points of the interview. Relate them clearly and specifically to your purpose.
- Integrate direct quotations into the body of your discussion.
- Summarize the interview by restating both your purpose and the main points covered in the report.
- Polish your draft. Look for any errors and evaluate the flow of your article. Make some last minute improvements.
Source:
Erica Mae R. Gonzales
Language Update
Current Events Digest Inc.
