The document provides tips for conducting interviews. It emphasizes that an interview should feel like a conversation, not an interrogation. The interviewer should make the subject comfortable, ask open-ended questions, listen more than they talk, and focus on getting interesting sound bites. Key tips include beginning with "tell me about", asking follow up questions, mirroring responses back, and focusing on one issue at a time. The environment and lighting for a video interview are also important factors to consider.
Video creations and presentation tools: GMLP Media Literacy Mini Conference: ...
It's not an interview; it's a conversation
1. It’s Not an Interview;
It’s a Conversation
Don Goble
Ladue High School
St. Louis, MO
email: dgoble@ladueschools.net
website: www.about.me/dongoble
Twitter: @dgoble2001
#JEAai
2. Interviewing:
Learning to Listen
Find a connection point – relationship
Make time for the interviewee - don’t be in
a rush if at all possible
Do not interrupt the speaker
Focus on the speaker with your EYES
3. Interviewing:
Learning to Listen
Help the interviewee think through your
question - Rephrase if necessary
Ask questions that really let the person
know you are listening – Paraphrase
Don’t EVER judge a person’s answers
4. Interviewing:
Optimal Location
# 2 Takeaway! Environment/Location is
CRUCIAL for a video interview!
Interview should occur in the appropriate
environment, if at all possible (at an event,
game, somewhere near action to get
reaction)
Zoom your FEET not the LENS
5. Interviewing:
Optimal Location
Survey your location for possible noise
distractions or interruptions (wind, cars,
siren’s)
Survey your location for lighting (if
applicable)
6. Research
Learn as much as you can BEFORE the interview:
– Ask friends, colleagues, parents, etc.
– Search the Internet (social media)
BUT, once the interview begins, be CURIOUS
and NAÏVE!
– People won’t give you good answers if they
think you already know them
7. Asking Questions
Think about the purpose of the interview
– Objective questions = facts
• “How much…”
• “How many…”
• “What happened…”
– Subjective questions = opinions
• “Why……”
• “Would you explain…”
8. Say your name and spell it!
Hit record and ask them to say their name
and spell it. (audio check)
Now you have a record of the persons
name to create graphics later.
Spelling people’s names wrong = BAD!
9. Asking Questions
# 1 Takeaway! Begin EVERY video conversation with
TELL ME ABOUT!
Great conversation starters begin with
– TELL ME ABOUT…..
– “How did..?”
– “What if..?”
– “Why do you..?”
Ask Open-Ended questions
– Cannot be answered with a yes or no response.
– Do not offer a choice
10. Asking Questions
Mirror
– Tell your interviewee what you hear him or her saying,
then ask, “Did I get that right? Is there more?”
– Remember not to interrupt or disagree; that blocks
your ability to listen.
– Mirroring checks your understanding
– Anything else you would like to add?
11. Asking Questions
LISTEN more than you TALK!
– Listening is more than just waiting for your turn to
talk.
– You are interviewing to LEARN!
– If you are talking, you are not learning anything.
– Use your ears more than your mouth.
12. Listening
1. Eye contact
2. Taking mental or physical notes in the person’s
own words
3. Involves suspension of judgment
4. Is not ANALYZING what the person is saying as
they are saying it.
5. Create a safe space where whatever needs to
happen or be said can come through.
13. Package the interview
1. Pull only the BEST sound bites (a.k.a: quotes)
1. Short, clear, concise sound bites are the best.
1. Paraphrase quotes for Voiceovers or Stand-
Ups.
1. “Make them laugh before you make them cry”
-- Les Rose and Steve Hartman (CBS News)
14. It’s not an Interview, it’s
a Conversation!
1. Focus on one issue at a time
2. Be naïve
3. Be tough
4. Be human
5. Be honest
6. Empathize
7. Practice interviewing!
15. Interviewing Styles
Both interviewer and subject visible in camera
shot
Interviewer not visible, but heard
Interviewer and subject in different locations
entirely ("remote”)
Interviewer not visible and not heard
*Preferred
16. Over the Shoulder Shot
Interviewer not visible and not heard
*Preferred
Camera is set over the shoulder of the
interviewer
Light ALWAYS behind the CAMERA
Eye level
– Sit = Sit or Stand = Stand
18. Role Play Interview
2 Volunteers?
Find a partner and interview each other
for the next 10 minutes
19. Interview Tips
Plan ahead and present your project to
possible interviewees as early as
possible.
20. Interview Tips
Be clear about what your project entails,
what kinds of questions you’ll be asking,
and what will happen to the finished
product.
BUT, never give your C.O.O.L. character the
questions ahead of time!
21. Interview Tips
Remember people are putting their
stories in your hands, so you want to
establish a level of trust and assert your
own intentions to represent them fairly
and accurately.
22. Interview Tips
Be sensitive about people's privacy and
do not intrude on them if they are
reluctant about any aspect of the
project.
Invite interviewees to become active
participants in the project.
Ask your subjects to tell stories.
23. The next 26 from Aaron
Manful
http://thenext26.com/the-next-26-great-les
Lesson 4 – Short News Packages
Zip file of lesson, scoring guide, etc.