Deborah Potter / Advancing the Story

The interview is one of the most basic building blocks of journalism. It sounds obvious, but reporters have to talk to people to learn what’s really going on. And journalists need to include people’s voices in their stories to make those stories come alive.

It takes preparation and skill to do a good interview. It’s not just a matter of going out with a question and coming back with a sound bite. So NewsLab offers the following tips as a starter kit.

Choose the right person to interview

Talking to “the usual suspects” all the time can make stories predictable and flat. Look for different sources who might add a new perspective by asking these questions:

• Who is most directly involved in this story? Who is the central character?
• Who is most affected by what is happening in this story?
• Who is in conflict in this story?
• Who might have more information about this story?
• Who could help me find the right person to speak to for this story?

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