Journalism/interview research

I have done some research into have I should interview someone, ready for when I interview ‘Hannah’ for my double page spread.

I have learnt from http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-interview-someone that the best way to interview someone is to shut up and listen to that the interviewee is saying.
Introduce yourself at the start of every interview. Tell them who you are, your relationship to the publication that you are writing for and what the article will be about.

The interviewer needs to be themselves; this is because each person has their own interview style. The best interviews are the ones where you find common ground with the person you’re interviewing.

1. Be enthusiastic. People like people who like them. They are also conditioned to think of an ‘interview’ as a potentially hostile situation and be on their guard. Consequently, you should be upbeat and positive. Do this genuinely if you can. 

Sometimes the interviewer needs to shut up. You should be talking about 10-20% of the time at most.

2. Listen hard. Sometimes you can pick up a word or a phrase in an answer which you can play back to the interviewee and get something much more intimate, interesting or honest. 3. Interviews aren’t scripted Q&As, they are intense professional conversations and you need to concentrate.

4. Don’t lose control. Sometimes, especially with self-important interviewees, you can get into a bit of a tug-of-war over who is in charge of the interview. Never forget that you are the CEO of the interview. You don’t have to be bossy but it’s important that you get what you need from the interview and you steer it in the direction you want to go.

5. Focus on what you need. Sometimes people get absorbed in details. Sometimes you need a specific quote or a good story.

6. Respect the interviewee’s privacy. 
7. Be courteous. Say thank you afterwards. If you can provide a copy of the final article, do so.