Interviews

• Always ask your subjects to spell their names before you start the interview. You will need that later when creating titles.
• The subject of your interview should be looking at the interviewer, NOT staring into the camera lens.
• The subject’s answers to your questions should be able to stand on their own. You should NOT include your questions in the story, mainly because your questions won’t be recorded on the microphone and will come out sounding terrible. This means that during interviews you should encourage subjects to use complete sentences for the sake of editing later.

WRONG: “Do you like the new dress code?” … “No.”

WRONG: “How do you feel about the new dress code?” … “Hate it.”

RIGHT: “How do you feel about the new dress code?” … “I don’t like the new dress code.”

• You are never permitted to interview people in either Broadcast Journalism class for your stories. You are strongly discouraged from interviewing J&C students for your stories. Interview J&C students only when they are the only possible source for the story.
• Make a sincere effort to interview people outside of your social group or comfort zone. Interview people of ALL races, ages, and backgrounds for your stories. Do not just interview your friends and acquaintances. Do not just interview people available during 1st block (aides, study skills students, etc.).
• Don’t write down a bunch of generic questions in advance, then ask only those questions with no follow-ups. Interviews should be more like conversations and less like formal Q&A sessions.
• Do your "pre-search"—know your subject and the story BEFORE you go into the interview. Don’t make yourself look foolish by being unprepared.