How To Take Notes During An Interview Journalism

Practice your interviewing technique with a trusted colleague especially if interviewing is new to you.

How to take notes during an interview journalism. Prepping for the interview. Listen listen and listen. You always want to take the most thorough notes possible. Watch an experienced reporter doing an interview and you ll probably notice that she.

Write down 5 10 open ended questions based on the information you re looking to uncover and research you ve done. Here are some ideas that should help frame every interview and become a part of. In this case don t hesitate to call the. Go through them with her and take notes.

5 tips on how to take good notes during a news interview 1. How to interview and take notes interviewing. Take notes on the setting. During the interview do not be tied to your list of questions.

For an hour long interview the entire transcript could be as long as 15 to 20 pages but the notes should be around 3 to 5 pages. Go to an interview with a plan and an expectation of what the interviewee is going to say. Be thorough but not stenographic. Jot down the good quotes.

If the interview is in an office make notes of what is on the walls and on the desk. After reviewing your notes another question or two might come to mind. More advice about the interview itself. You have already learned the most important thing you could possibly need to know about interviewing and.

Also take notes on what the person looked like what the person was wearing where he or she sat. Focus only on the things that are most important like the interviewer s names notable things about each person and details essential to the job you re interviewing for. Ask her if you can borrow or copy them. Grimm polled colleagues about the best way to take notes during interviews.

Let the subject know you are listening by maintaining eye contact nodding your head leaning forward and. While taking notes during the interview can be helpful it will definitely be counterproductive if you start writing a novel. An interview starts well before you sit down across the table from the other person. Write down details about the character s home or office or about the room where the event takes place.

The objects people surround themselves with hold important clues to their personalities. At the end of each interview your notes should look like a rough draft of interview scripts not a page of 5 bullet points. If the person says something surprising write that down.