What This Document Is
These are lecture notes from News Reporting I (CJR 256) at Grand Valley State University, specifically covering Chapter 11: Interviewing. The notes outline key considerations for conducting effective news interviews, from pre-interview preparation to navigating potential pitfalls during the conversation itself. It’s designed to support student learning within the course framework.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is essential for journalism students and aspiring reporters. It’s used during the course to build a foundational understanding of how to gather information through interviews – a core skill in news reporting. Understanding these principles is crucial for anyone aiming to produce accurate, insightful, and well-sourced news stories. It’s particularly relevant when preparing for interview-based assignments within the course.
Common Limitations or Challenges
These notes provide a framework for interviewing, but they do not offer practical experience. Students will still need to practice interviewing techniques and apply these concepts in real-world scenarios. The notes also don’t cover specialized interviewing techniques for specific types of stories (e.g., investigative reporting, sports interviews) in detail.
What This Document Provides
This document includes:
* A breakdown of the types of information sought during interviews (names, events, context, anecdotes, etc.).
* A step-by-step guide to preparing for an interview, including defining purpose, identifying sources, and anticipating answers.
* Guidance on determining the appropriate number of sources needed for a story, based on factors like deadline, expertise, controversy, and complexity.
* A list of advantages gained through thorough pre-interview research.
* Common interview traps to avoid, such as asking leading questions or double-barreled questions.
* A selection of potential questions for feature interviews and personality profiles.
This preview does *not* include detailed examples of questions, specific case studies, or in-depth analysis of complex interview scenarios. It also does not contain any practice exercises or assignments.