US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

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Lesson 4, Learning Event 5Writers understand that for an article to be credible, facts andopinion must be attributed. Indisputable, publicly known facts canbe used without attribution. However, the new journalist shouldstrive toward letting the interviewee and reference sources be thesources of attribution. The writer can never use himself as thesource of attribution in the news or feature story.It's a good idea to avoid putting words into the interviewee'smouth. Questions which begin with or end with comments such as:"Don't you think ...." or "Wouldn't you say ...." generallyindicate a thought the writer wants to attribute to the source.Such questions indicate to your source that you have alreadywritten the article and just want to attribute it to him. It alsoputs the interviewee in a "yes' or 'no' answering mood. This makesgetting anecdotes and the source's personality or additionalthoughts next to impossible.An easy way to avoid "yes" or 'no' answers is to write yourquestions phased in the five Ws and H format. For example: "Whatdo you think about ...." or "Why is this project so important?"These questions put the source in a reflective, explanatory mood.Artful notetaking enables the writer to jot down the main pointsand to also note the color or atmosphere of the interview. Thewriter can note the source's tone of voice, facial expressions,mannerisms, movements, physical appearance, clothing and many otherthings that will help him point a vivid word picture of thesubject.CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWAmong the most critical tasks of the actual interview is theabsolute necessity of being on time. Never waste the source's timeby making him wait. A related task is to not exceed the time limityou asked for. If more information is needed, ask for anotherinterview time. Always defer to the source's schedule. If theinterview is running overtime and the source wants to continue, goahead, but don't waste time.Establishing rapport between the reporter and the source is aprimary consideration during the interview. Since the real purposeof an interview is to get the subject to talk38
Lesson 4, Learning Event 5-- not merely answer a list of prepared, well-researched --questions, rapport can make the difference between a great or amediocre article.One way to establish rapport is to be professional in every way: Beon time, look sharp and know the questions you want to ask (thisallows the interview to range in a conversational way). Don't Betoo casual in manner; it's best to be a little formal when meetingsomeone for the first time (or anytime your subject is yoursuperior). Don't invite yourself to sit down; wait until you'reasked. Certainly, you won't smoke without permission. (Smokingalso makes note-taking more difficult because it takes up one ofyour two hands.) In other words, conduct yourself as if you were aguest, as indeed you are.Because many people are nervous about being interviewed, the writeris responsible for putting the person at ease. Although the writershouldn't waste time in icebreaking small talk, he can begin withrelatively easy questions and then move to the more thoughtprovoking.To become an accomplished interviewer the reporter must do twothings during the course of the session: Let the subject talk, andlisten attentively to what is said. He should listen carefully andforget about what he is planning to ask next. This encourages thesubject to be himself instead of a spokesman.However, to make the interview as conversational as possible it isnecessary to do more than just listen. Conversation is a two-wayprocess and the reporter is expected to carry his snare of it.Don't Argue With Your SourceThe professional reporter never argues with the person, never triesto persuade the source to the reporter's way of thinking, neverjudges the source and never acts like a prosecuting attorney incross-examination. If the reporter does any of these things, hewill lose the source. Should the reporter disagree with what issaid --and there are times when writers do disagree --simply nod,or make a comment of understanding such as: "I see." Let theperson keep on talking. To keep up his end of the conversation,the reporter may simply indicate his understanding of what has beensaid and his desire to continue listening.39
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