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The Art of

The Interview

Click here

For the recorded webinar with SRL teacher

mike conrad and

SRL managing editor

Leah clapman

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Story is Everything

Art of the Interview

PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs

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Art of the Interview

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What story do you want to tell, what angle?

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Art of the Interview

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Do your research,

get to know your subject,

stay the course.

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LinkedIN - Google - Local News Sites

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Art of the Interview

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Create an outline of your video before you gather any footage

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Help your subject tell you a story

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Art of the Interview

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  • Ask the right questions. (based on your Inquiry Questions)

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  • Rewrite a question six different ways

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  • Practice

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  • Peer review - show at least 3 other people

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Yes or no questions

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Do you like Pizza?

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Do you like Pizza?…

Why?

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Describe your favorite Pizza

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Tell me about your favorite Pizza Place

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Tell Me …

Describe …

Explain …

Identify …

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Art of the Interview

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KNOW YOUR QUESTIONS!

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Instead of reading them as a grocery list, use your questions as a CONVERSATION prompt. Or, as a FOLLOW UP on an answer.

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KNOW YOUR QUESTIONS!

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Art of the Interview

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PRE-INTERVIEW QUESTIONS?

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  • It is OK to provide questions, OR TOPICS, ahead of time
  • What you learn in your pre-interview may CHANGE YOUR STORY
  • “Now we’re just going to sit down and chat for a few minutes and I know you have answered some of these questions already in the pre-interview or through the email, but I just need for you to answer them again for the camera.”

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Starting The Interview

Art of the Interview

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Art of the Interview

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  • You are in control

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  • Why are you interested in this person?

Explain why you want to do this story. Share your enthusiasm.

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  • Respect their time!

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Art of the Interview

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  • Give clear directions -

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“My questions will NOT be part of the final piece so please answer in a full sentence or please include part the question as part of your answer.”

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YOU CAN START OVER IF YOU’D LIKE

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Art of the Interview

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Transparency.

Build trust: as the producer, you want them to look and sound good.

Your subject should feel that you have their back. �

  • “I want you to look good, I want you to sound good.”�
  • Ask them to restate an answer if it goes on too long, or seems incoherent. It is OK to do this.

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  • “That was a great response, and it really covers a few areas. Can you talk about the first area a little more?”

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  • “That was a great response, can you say that again in under 20 seconds?”

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“Tell me. � Who are you?

And What do you do?”

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Charles Binion

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Art of the Interview

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Opening them up:

“Tell me who are you, and what do you do”.

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Throw away question for a lower third.

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“I’m Charles Binion, I’m program director at

Changing Perceptions”

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Art of the Interview

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Mid-way through the interview ask them again:

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“Tell me who are you, and what do you do”,

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“My name is Charles Binion, and I’m obligated to help returning citizens with entrepreneurship to be finding housing to be a life-sustaining individual in the community.”

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Art of the Interview

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When the interview is over:

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“OK I think we have everything we need.

Now, who are you, and what do you do?”

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Listen!

Art of the Interview

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Listen to Body Language

Art of the Interview

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Art of the Interview

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We all mimic each others body language. Especially when we are accepting of the person and ready to receive their message.

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Think about your eye line and whether you look and feel like you’re listening.

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Art of the Interview

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Tips for successful remote production from American Portrait

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  • Identify compelling participants
  • Build trust with participants
  • Use your Emotional Intelligence
  • Collaborative efforts at every level of the work
  • Organized and flexible at the same time
  • Roll with the punches

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Interview Checklist

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  1. Double check audio and video recording
  2. “I’m excited to do this interview because…..”
  3. “Say and spell you name”
  4. HAVE A CONVERSATION
  5. LISTEN
  6. ASK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
  7. GOOD BODY LANGUAGE (eye contact, be engaged)
  8. “Tell me, Explain, Help me understand”
  9. “Could you repeat that, but shorter?”
  10. “Could you explain that again, as if to a 12-year-old?”
  11. Don’t turn off the camera until you get the soundbites you need.
  12. “Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

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Art of the Interview

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When the interview is over:

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“What would you like to add? Something we did not cover?”

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“What are some misconceptions you’d like to clear up?”

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Always debrief after an interview

write down your impressions

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ALWAYS transcribe

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Do. not. Skip. transcription.

Transcribing Video 2 min cut_EHS013018.mp4

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Transcription: word for word document of what was said

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Emotions are transcribable too.

Do they cry, laugh, are scared, smile? (use emojis!)

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Art of the Interview

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Use timecodes. Time code every minute.

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Art of the Interview

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  • Speaker
  • Timecodes
  • File Name

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Always

Transcribe

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Always

Transcribe

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Questions?

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CLick here for video of the entire art of the interview SRL webinar

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PBS SRL Summer Academy 2019