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: l l l l l l 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: l 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 15-7