How to conduct an interview

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

Role-Playing an Interview

  1. Instructions:

    • Pair up with a partner. One person plays the interviewer, and the other acts as the interviewee.
    • The interviewer chooses a topic (e.g., a new community project, a recent event) and prepares 3-5 open-ended questions.
    • Conduct a 5-minute interview. The interviewer should:
      • Actively listen and ask follow-up questions based on the interviewee's answers.
      • Use clear, concise, and open-ended questions.
      • Pay attention to non-verbal cues like eye contact and nodding.

  2. Reflection:

    • After the interview, discuss with your partner:
      • What worked well?
      • Were the questions clear and engaging?
      • Did the interviewer adapt effectively to the interviewee's responses

Part 1: Preparation – Creating Unique Questions

  1. Choose Your Subject:

    • Select a topic or a hypothetical interviewee (e.g., a local artist, an entrepreneur, or a politician).
    • Write a brief description of their background and the topic you’ll focus on.

  2. Research Deeply:

    • Spend 15–20 minutes researching the subject’s background, work, or recent achievements. Identify 2–3 unique angles or less obvious topics to explore.
      Example: If interviewing a local chef, go beyond their restaurant's menu—explore their personal inspiration, challenges they’ve faced, or their thoughts on food sustainability.

  3. Write Your Questions:

    • Prepare 5–7 open-ended questions that encourage detailed answers. Focus on:
      • Questions that highlight their expertise (“What inspired your unique approach to [topic]?”).
      • Questions that reveal personal insights (“What has been your biggest lesson from this experience?”).
      • Questions about broader trends or challenges (“How do you see the future of [industry] evolving?”).

Part 2: Conduct the Interview

  1. Role-Play:

    • Pair up with a partner or work in a group. One person acts as the interviewer, and the other as the interviewee.
    • The interviewer uses their prepared questions to guide a 10-minute interview.
    • The interviewer should:
      • Actively listen and ask follow-up questions.
      • Use non-verbal communication (eye contact, nodding) to build rapport.
      • Keep the conversation engaging and on topic.

  2. Add a Twist:

    • Partway through, the interviewee introduces a surprise twist (e.g., they reveal a challenge they’ve faced, or they shift focus to a different aspect of their story).
    • The interviewer must adapt their questions on the spot to keep the interview dynamic and relevant.

Part 3: Reflection and Feedback

After the interview, both the interviewer and the interviewee reflect on:

  • What made the interview interesting or engaging?
      • Were the questions original and insightful?
      • How well did the interviewer adapt to unexpected answers or twists?