1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

56 Journalism Online
3 Give some thought to the sequence of questions, so there is a
logical flow and order to the interview. Chronologies work best
in event-based stories, such as crime or emergency incidents.
Issue-based stories need more careful construction so that you
can take the listener with you. Do not be afraid to give the
interviewee a broad outline of the ground you wish to cover
before the interview. The experienced will already know what
to expect but it can relax the inexperienced interviewee and
result in a better interview.
4 Do your research before the interview, not during it. Questions
that gather basic factual information will bore the
listener. Use the factual information gathered prior to the
recording to pose sharp and focused questions during it.
5 Questions must be open (e.g. ‘how’, ‘why’ and ‘what’ questions,
which cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’), but not
too open. ‘Tell me a little about . . .’ is a disastrous opener to a
question. You are not providing any structure or focus. The
interviewee will either tell you too much, or take you at your
word and only utter half a sentence.
6 Keep your questions succinct and clear, certainly no longer
than the answers! Do not ask two questions in one. It confuses
the inexperienced interviewee and lets the others off the
hook.
7 Listen very carefully to the answers and be prepared to
challenge or put the other side of the argument when
appropriate. Try not to interrupt too often. Even the most
experienced interviewees must pause for breath, which can
give you a chance to get your challenging question in.
8 Use plenty of eye contact. If your interviewee is nervous while
he or she is talking, do not make encouraging ‘hmms’ or
repeat the phrase ‘I see’. They distract the listener and are a
nightmare to edit. Just nod your head and smile, if
appropriate.
9 Hold the microphone about nine inches away from the
interviewee’s mouth and check the recording level before the
interview. Be prepared to adjust the microphone position
during the interview if the interviewee starts to talk more
loudly or quietly. If you get too close to the interviewee, the