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How to interview
A good interview is a powerful way to tell a story.
Everyone in the world has a special story to tell of one kind or another and it's up to you to get it! We publish interviews with inspirational people, be that activists, up and coming musicians or young people who have made a positive difference to the world around them.
Who to interview
You don't have to interview a famous person to get a good story. Interview anyone interesting that you come across! It could be a grandparent or neighbour, or ask your parents, teachers or friends to introduce you to someone interesting. Then do your research - find out as much about your subject as possible before the interview. This way you'll know what kinds of questions to ask and be a better interviewer.
How to set up an interview
You can set up an interview by email, phone or through someone you know. Unless you already know the person you are going to interview, it is rude to just drop by unexpected and ask them for an interview. It puts them on the spot. A useful tip when arranging an interview by phone is to let the person know in advance what you are writing the article for and outline some of the themes/ issues you would like to question them on. This will give them time to collect their thoughts and prepare. Be sure to set a specific time, place and date and make sure you are there a few minutes early. Bring a pen, notebook and dictaphone along with you and check your batteries beforehand!
Pre-interview tips
It’s important not to rush straight into the interview unless the person you have arranged to meet is in a hurry. Introduce yourself and who you are writing for. Set the scene and relax the person by spending a short while chatting and sharing a laugh. This will help put the person you are interviewing at ease and make for a much more natural interview.
Conducting the interview
Have a set of questions ready before you begin. If you plan to use a dictaphone, get permission first. Ask thought-provoking questions and don't settle for one-word answers. A helpful tip is to ask open-ended questions, for example “How did you feel about moving from home”? will get a more detailed response than asking “Did you like moving from home”?
Draw the details out with follow-up questions. Be curious! If you learn something interesting during the interview, don't be afraid to steer off-course. Let the interview follow its own natural progression.
Writing up the interview
You can talk for as long as you want but a recorded interview that is longer than 20 minutes will leave you with a lot of editing! If you have a good story don’t edit it to pieces. Begin with an introductory paragraph explaining who you interviewed, why and what conclusions you have drawn from your discussion. Use a Question and Answer format and make sure the answers are accurate quotations. Edit out ramblings and extra words. If possible, put a face with the name by including a photograph of the person you interviewed.
Signed permission from anyone interviewed, photographed or filmed must be received before publication on SpunOut.ie. Contact anna@spunout.ie for permission forms.
Please read the Submission Guidelines before contributing to SpunOut.ie
