US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Lesson 4, Learning Event 4Interviews are set up in three basic phases:1. Preinterview2. The interview3. Post-interviewCONDUCT PREINTERVIEW RESEARCHThe preinterview period can be broken into four phases.1. Learn about the source2. Arrange the interview3. Research topic and decide on the angle4. Write questionsWhen an article has been assigned, the reporter should be askinghimself several questions. What is the topic? What is the purposeof the article? When is it due? What sources of informationexist? Who should be interviewed?Learn About the SourceWhen interviews are necessary and the reporter has identified theperson he needs to interview, he should find out what he can aboutthe source. Exactly what he will need to know about the subjectdepends on whether the interview is for a news story or a feature.Is the source an authority? What is his professional andscholastic background? Hobbies? Interests? What does he knowabout your subject and how does he feel about it?Arrange the InterviewOnce you have begun to get an understanding of the person you cantelephone him to ask for an interview.Brady, of Writer's Digest, suggests that, when writers are askingfor interviews they should put themselves in the interviewee'sposition. What will the interview cost him?36
Lesson 4, Learning Event 4Who are you? For which publication do you write?.. How areinterviewees treated in your publication? What will the interviewdo for him? How much time will he lose? Writers should avoidgiving the lame reason, "My editor wants a story on the commissaryproject and I need to interview you." A better approach may be,"Mr. Carn, I understand that you are working on the new commissaryproject. I am writing an article to update the Fort Lost Treecommunity on the project. Could I come talk to you for about 30minutes?" Notice in the second example the word interview wasnever mentioned. (Some people freezeup in 'interviews' but candiscuss their topics well in conversation.) Mr. Carn's credibilitywas recognized (massaging his ego) and the length (time cost) ofthe interview was mentioned.Be flexible. Try to fit the interview into his schedule. If youare working against a deadline, tactfully explain, and ask if thereis a time he could fit you into his schedule.Be prepared to interview early, late or during lunch.Research Topic and Decide on the AngleOnce the interview has been arranged, the writer should startsearching for the answers he needs in the article. The lateCornelius Ryan, author of "The Longest Day," wrote that aninterview should never be conducted unless the writer knows atleast 60 percent of the answers in advance.The writer may check earlier news clippings on the subject formaterial which has already been published. This information mayform the basis for follow-up questions. However, don't waste thesource's time by asking questions to which you can easily findanswers in biographical sheets or regulations.Write QuestionsLibrary references can acquaint the writer with the current issueson the topic. Supplied with his news clippings and libraryresearch the writer can begin forming his questions. He will knowthe answers to some questions but the reporter may want to get theinterviewee's comments and viewpoints.37
Page 1 and 2: CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE SOME TIME FOR
Page 3 and 4: US ARMY JOURNALISTMOS 71Q SKILL LEV
Page 5 and 6: Learning Event 2: Sources and Tools
Page 7 and 8: Condition: Given the information in
Page 9 and 10: Lesson 1, Learning Event 1WHAT IS N
Page 11 and 12: Lesson 1, Learning Event 22. PROXIM
Page 13 and 14: Lesson 1, Learning Event 3article o
Page 15 and 16: Lesson 1, Learning Event 4Unit news
Page 17 and 18: ANSWER KEYPRACTICE EXERCISELESSON N
Page 19 and 20: Lesson 2, Learning Event 2photograp
Page 21 and 22: Lesson 2, Learning Event 3At mythic
Page 23 and 24: Lesson 2, Learning Event 4involved
Page 25 and 26: ANSWER KEYPRACTICE EXERCISELESSON N
Page 27 and 28: Lesson 3, Learning Event 1to develo
Page 29 and 30: Lesson 3, Learning Event 2SOURCES A
Page 31 and 32: Lesson 3, Learning Event 2Figure 3-
Page 33 and 34: Lesson 3, Learning Event 2Telephone
Page 35 and 36: PRACTICE EXERCISELESSON NO. 3GATHER
Page 37 and 38: Lesson 4, Learning Event 1INTERVIEW
Page 39 and 40: Lesson 4, Learning Event 2Another d
Page 41: Lesson 4, Learning Event 35. Know a
Page 45 and 46: Lesson 4, Learning Event 5-- not me
Page 47 and 48: Lesson 4, Learning Event 6Ending th
Page 49 and 50: PRACTICE EXERCISELESSON NO. 4INTERV

US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?