Communication skills

 

In this video, we’ll walk you through the essential communication skills every journalist needs to conduct successful interviews. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, mastering these skills can make all the difference in getting meaningful answers and crafting compelling stories.
We’ll cover the building blocks of a great interview, starting with active listening—a skill that helps you truly understand your interviewee and uncover deeper insights. You’ll also learn about asking clear and concise questions, using non-verbal communication to build trust, and the importance of showing empathy and patience during an interview. Finally, we’ll dive into why being adaptable is crucial for staying on top of unexpected twists and turns.
By the end of this video, you’ll have a strong toolkit of communication techniques to make your interviews smoother, more insightful, and ultimately more impactful.

Additional reading

  • Interviewing: A Guide for Journalists and Writers by Gail Sedorkin (2002)
  • The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel (2004)
  • Doing Interviews, Svend Brinkmann (2018)
  • The handbook of journalism by Nathaniel C. Fowler (2023) 
  • Interviewing Techniques | Journalism Study Guide by HyperWrite
    A comprehensive guide covering key concepts, strategies, and best practices for conducting informative and engaging interviews. Hyperwrite AI
  • 10 Interviewing Tips for Journalists - Writer's Digest Practical advice on conducting successful interviews, including preparation, question formulation, and maintaining conversational flow. Writers Digest
  • 13 Simple Journalist Techniques for Effective Interviews - Matador Network A list of straightforward techniques to enhance your interviewing effectiveness, from setting goals to managing the interview environment. Matador Network

Practical exersices

Mastering Active Listening in Interviews

Instructions:

  1. Partner Up: Pair up with a colleague, friend, or classmate. One person acts as the journalist, and the other as the interviewee.

  2. Choose a Topic: The interviewee selects a topic they are familiar with (e.g., their favorite hobby, a recent project, or a personal achievement). The journalist should know little about the topic to ensure genuine listening.

  3. Conduct the Interview: The journalist asks the following open-ended starter questions:

    • "Can you tell me about your experience with [topic]?"
    • "What inspired you to get involved in this?"
    • "What challenges have you faced?"
    • "How has this impacted you or others?"

    While the interviewee answers, the journalist must:

    • Focus entirely on what is being said (no interruptions).
    • Use non-verbal cues (eye contact, nodding) to show engagement.
    • Avoid writing down every word—take brief notes only if necessary.

  4. Follow-Up Questions: Based on the answers, the journalist asks 3-4 follow-up questions to explore the topic further. For example:

    • "You mentioned a challenge earlier—can you elaborate on how you overcame it?"
    • "That’s an interesting perspective. Can you share more about how it shaped your approach?"

After the interview:

  1. Discuss with your partner:

    • Did the journalist’s questions flow naturally?
    • Did the journalist actively engage with and respond to the answers?
    • Did the follow-up questions add depth to the interview?

  2. Write down what you learned about the importance of active listening in journalism:

    • How did it help uncover details or angles you might not have considered initially?
    • How can you apply this skill in real-world reporting scenarios?

Analyzing Non-Verbal Communication

  1. Instructions:

    • Watch a recorded interview (e.g., a journalist interviewing a guest on a talk show or podcast).
    • Pay close attention to the interviewer’s non-verbal communication (eye contact, facial expressions, body posture) and how it affects the flow of the interview.
    • Note how these cues influence the interviewee’s comfort level and willingness to share information.

  2. Tasks:

    • Write down examples of effective non-verbal communication you observed and explain why they were successful.
    • Identify any missed opportunities or non-verbal cues that could have been improved and suggest alternatives.

  3. Reflection:

    • Discuss or write about how you can apply these non-verbal communication techniques in your own interviews.