Comments on: Tips for the Journalist Inside You: Performing an Interview http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/ Freelance Resources for Writers, Designers & Other Virtual Service Providers Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:50:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: “Guru.com Sucks” | Freelance Parent http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-7196 “Guru.com Sucks” | Freelance Parent Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:09:27 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-7196 [...] seems that there are a lot of you out there who have plans to “interview a journalist” or to “interview like a journalist,” too. Who would have [...] [...] seems that there are a lot of you out there who have plans to “interview a journalist” or to “interview like a journalist,” too. Who would have [...]

]]> By: Bookmark These Sites, Mamas! Freelance Parent & Write-from-Home « Writer Mama Riffs on Raising A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-5458 Bookmark These Sites, Mamas! Freelance Parent & Write-from-Home « Writer Mama Riffs on Raising A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:53:58 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-5458 [...] and they share what they’re learning along the way. The site has tips on grant-writing, interviewing and finding time to work while parenting. The writing is smart, funny and helpful — a perfect [...] [...] and they share what they’re learning along the way. The site has tips on grant-writing, interviewing and finding time to work while parenting. The writing is smart, funny and helpful — a perfect [...]

]]> By: andreas04: close to attraction http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2910 andreas04: close to attraction Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:44:33 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2910 [...]      Interviewing is one of the main ways freelance writers gather information for an article. Over at emomsathome.com, Tamara Berry shares 6 Tips for the Journalist Inside You: Performing an Interview. [...] [...]      Interviewing is one of the main ways freelance writers gather information for an article. Over at emomsathome.com, Tamara Berry shares 6 Tips for the Journalist Inside You: Performing an Interview. [...]

]]> By: CatherineL http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2803 CatherineL Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:42:13 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2803 Hi Tamara - Wonderful tips. I too hate the thought of getting out and about. But, once you do it, you feel so much better don't you? Sometimes, I think you learn far more from your encounters with other people than from anything else you do. Hi Tamara – Wonderful tips. I too hate the thought of getting out and about. But, once you do it, you feel so much better don’t you?

Sometimes, I think you learn far more from your encounters with other people than from anything else you do.

]]> By: What’s on your Google Resume? | Freelance Parent http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2784 What’s on your Google Resume? | Freelance Parent Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:07:37 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2784 [...] I mentioned that Lorna’s interview subject Googled her prior to their phone call to see if he could find anything out about her. I wondered if my [...] [...] I mentioned that Lorna’s interview subject Googled her prior to their phone call to see if he could find anything out about her. I wondered if my [...]

]]> By: Ally http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2720 Ally Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:09:57 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2720 My first face to face was also with a well known non profit. Weird. When I came home and listened to the recording I realized I interrupted a bit and sometimes tried to finish his sentences! LESSON: Don't do that! and listen to your audio for additional tips before your next interview. My first face to face was also with a well known non profit. Weird. When I came home and listened to the recording I realized I interrupted a bit and sometimes tried to finish his sentences!

LESSON: Don’t do that! and listen to your audio for additional tips before your next interview.

]]> By: Christa M. Miller http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2719 Christa M. Miller Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:02:19 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2719 That first interview was by phone, and so were the ones that followed it up. In fact, I rarely did face-to-face interviews, even before I had kids. I don't think it matters. While true that you're missing out on some body language and what a person's setting looks like, you can still hear the tone of their voice (like when you're losing them, when they want the interview to end, and when they're really into it). Phone interviews work for me, plus they allow for a broader range of experience because I can talk to anyone anywhere in the country (if I'm writing the kind of article that calls for it). It's email interviews that lose the most in translation IMO, plus not many people like to type so much! That first interview was by phone, and so were the ones that followed it up. In fact, I rarely did face-to-face interviews, even before I had kids.

I don’t think it matters. While true that you’re missing out on some body language and what a person’s setting looks like, you can still hear the tone of their voice (like when you’re losing them, when they want the interview to end, and when they’re really into it). Phone interviews work for me, plus they allow for a broader range of experience because I can talk to anyone anywhere in the country (if I’m writing the kind of article that calls for it).

It’s email interviews that lose the most in translation IMO, plus not many people like to type so much!

]]> By: Tamara Berry http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2718 Tamara Berry Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:50:47 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2718 Great feedback so far! I would like to pose a question, though. Is most of your experience in phone interviews or face-to-face interviews? I get the feeling quite a few interviews are done by phone these days. How does that impact the interviewing process? Great feedback so far! I would like to pose a question, though.

Is most of your experience in phone interviews or face-to-face interviews? I get the feeling quite a few interviews are done by phone these days. How does that impact the interviewing process?

]]> By: Rachel http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2717 Rachel Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:18:01 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2717 @Christa--yes! Don't be afraid of the uncomfortable silence--if you're feeling like you need to fill the silence with talking, remember that your source probably is too, and if you wait long enough, s/he will. (But don't, you know, make them too nervous.) Another good tactic is to ask a throwaway question so you can finish writing down everything from the previous question. "Is that your dog in the picture? What's his name?" @Christa–yes! Don’t be afraid of the uncomfortable silence–if you’re feeling like you need to fill the silence with talking, remember that your source probably is too, and if you wait long enough, s/he will. (But don’t, you know, make them too nervous.)

Another good tactic is to ask a throwaway question so you can finish writing down everything from the previous question. “Is that your dog in the picture? What’s his name?”

]]> By: Christa M. Miller http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2709 Christa M. Miller Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:57:53 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2709 I'll add to the above commenter that it's often good to stretch out a silence while you write stuff down. The subject usually fills in the silence hole with more good material. Also: I botched my first interview horribly. The subject was a media expert, vs. me, stammering and sounding uncertain and asking the most obvious questions ever. I couldn't use any of it. When it was over I allowed myself several hours to freak out. Then, when I thought about it, I realized 1) I could have been better prepared, 2) how to get that way next time, and 3) the guy was a total jerk. Sure enough, later interviews went MUCH better, especially after I explained I was new at this freelance thing. I’ll add to the above commenter that it’s often good to stretch out a silence while you write stuff down. The subject usually fills in the silence hole with more good material.

Also: I botched my first interview horribly. The subject was a media expert, vs. me, stammering and sounding uncertain and asking the most obvious questions ever. I couldn’t use any of it. When it was over I allowed myself several hours to freak out. Then, when I thought about it, I realized 1) I could have been better prepared, 2) how to get that way next time, and 3) the guy was a total jerk. Sure enough, later interviews went MUCH better, especially after I explained I was new at this freelance thing.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-2683 Rachel Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:12:39 +0000 http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/tips-for-the-journalist-inside-you-performing-an-interview/#comment-2683 These are all great tips. I would like to add: Do not--repeat, do not be afraid to ask the person to repeat something, explain something, or just talk slower. A lot of folks are just not used to being interviewed and will talk way faster than your notebook or keyboard can keep up. Even if they're a bigwig who's used to getting media inquiries, you're not going to make yourself look silly with an "Excuse me, but I want to make sure I get you quoted accurately. Could you please speak a little more slowly?" Congrats, by the way--it sounds like the piece went well. These are all great tips. I would like to add: Do not–repeat, do not be afraid to ask the person to repeat something, explain something, or just talk slower. A lot of folks are just not used to being interviewed and will talk way faster than your notebook or keyboard can keep up. Even if they’re a bigwig who’s used to getting media inquiries, you’re not going to make yourself look silly with an “Excuse me, but I want to make sure I get you quoted accurately. Could you please speak a little more slowly?”

Congrats, by the way–it sounds like the piece went well.

]]>