Although not an all-inclusive list, the following
helpful hints will make the difference between a good
interview and a great interview.
BE PROMPT
Nothing is more exasperating than an interviewer
who has little concern for timing. You should arrive at
the interview site well before the scheduled time to set
up the lights, camera and the recording equipment.
When you are late for an interview, your subject may be
less cooperative than he might have been, and in some
cases, it may mean less time for you to ask all those
important questions.
MAKE YOUR SUBJECT FEEL
COMFORTABLE
If this is your subject’s first interview, he will
probably be nervous. Some common signs of
nervousness include the following behaviors:
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Tapping one’s pencil or fingers on the desk
Infrequent or nonexistent eye contact
Pulling away from the microphone
Excessive stuttering or stammering
Very short answers to your questions
Frequent interruptions of your questions
Sometimes you can make your subject feel more
comfortable by talking about other things, and therefore,
take his mind off the interview. You can do this during
a spot break for live interviews or at a logical stopping
point for taped interviews. Furthermore, since everyone
has a sense of personal space or a “comfort zone,” you
should select a seating arrangement that your guest finds
comfortable. One caveat to this strategy is that you
should not compromise the quality of the finished
product in favor of comfort. Explaining your technical
requirements to the interviewee will help.
BE ATTENTIVE
The most important characteristic of a good
interviewer is being a good listener. Your subject will be
more cooperative if he perceives that you are interested
in what he has to say. Good eye contact and your making
the appropriate responses at the right time will show the
interviewee that you are paying attention and want to
know more about the subject.
Always listen to what your subject is saying. Some
interviewers are more concerned about what they are
going to ask, rather than what the subject is saying —
stay clear of this trap. Interviewees occasionally
answer the question you are about to ask, so be alert and
adjust your questioning strategy accordingly.
By being an active listener and asking the
appropriate questions, you can keep your interview on
track and get the information you need in as short a time
as possible. However, if you receive obscure,
contradictory or confusing answers to your questions,
ask follow-up questions to clarify the point. If the
interviewee strays in his answer to a question, rephrase
or repeat the question to get him back on track
When you listen attentively, you also may pick up
on a fact you did not know about and slip in effective
follow-up questions.
Visualize the editing process while you are
recording the interview. If your subject tends to ramble
when answering questions, pay close attention to the
responses to know when the question is answered, and
therefore, when you can edit.
APPEARANCE
Your personal appearance is always important,
whether in your day-to-day duties or when you conduct
interviews for radio and television Any violation of
Navy uniform regulations, grooming standards or body
fat guidelines is particularly obvious on camera and will
be noticed by hundreds (or possibly thousands) of
people. Your appearance can enhance your credibility
or detract from it, so check your appearance thoroughly
before the interview.
POST PRODUCTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the pro-
cedures used to wrap up radio and television
interviews.
Once you have completed talking to the interviewee
and you are back at your studio or office, immediately
review the interview tape while it is still fresh in your
mind. The following tips will help you put together your
program or story with better efficiency:
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Make a run sheet for your radio interview listing
questions, answers and good edit locations.
Before you preview the footage for your
television interview, reset the tape counter to
zero, then log each scene on a shot sheet by
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