(1) Sincerity (altruistic purpose clearly stated); open mind,

(2) Curiosity

(3) Listening ability

(1) Definition of purpose (Know what you want and you're halfway there)

(2) Choice of respondent (Knowing who has the answers).

(3) Pre4nterview research 2

(4)Planning your interview

(5)Maldng an interview appointment

(6)Meeting-greeting your respondent/pretim'mary

(icebreaker) conversation 3

(7) GeUing down to business - your first planned questions

(8) Reaching a friendly conversational rapport- 4 like old friends talking

(9) The "bomb." Potentially embarrassing questions - to be handled carefully

(10)Ending the interview - watch for the

A definition:

Journalistic Interview: Gathering information on behalf of an audience by asking questions.

A pertinent thought from Studs Terkel in Division Street America::

I realized quite early in this adventure that interviews conventionally conducted were meaningless. Condi- tioned clicheswere certain tocome. The Q-A technique may be of value in determining favored detergents, toothpaste, and deodorants, but not in the discovery of men and women. It was simply a case of making conversation. Talk of childhood invatiably openedthe sluice gates of dammed up hurts and dreams. From then on there were occasional questions, depending on the other's flow......

A theory of communication (by Carl Rogers, counseling psychotherapist): Communication between two people is successful when she/he really thinks and feels, regardless of whether one is convinced of the truth of the commentary.

1. Have I made the purpose of my interview clear-both to myself and to my source? (What do you really want from this interview and how eager are you to obtain this information? The more wwific your purpose and the more apparent your enthusiasms, the more likely you are to gain cooperation.)

2. Have I made it clear (to myself and to the source) why I want information from this particular individual? (Source may be flattered to be singled out.)

3. Have I eliminated my own pre-conceived biases and removed my emotional barriers to communications?

4. Have I done preliminary research on the person and topic to be discussed-read things about hini/ber, done preliminary interviews so that I can develop new areas of inquiry?

5. "Has my research included preparation for "small talk" or "icebreaker'kinds of commentary? (e.g., reviewing news accounts of recent Supreme Court decisions when preparing to interview a lawyer.)

6. Before requesting the interview, have I prepared a few "sample" questions cold-bloodedly calculated to be both provocative and ego-reinforcing?

7. Am I prepared to use my listening "down time" effectively? (Your mind runs 3 to 4 times faster than people's speech so that you can tune in and out of the conversation. You can make effective use of the "non-listening" time to evaluate what is said, make comparisons with other data, take notes, and to think up new questions.)

8. Am I (or will I be by interview time?) well rested, well nourished, sober, with all mental faculties alert so that I can catch the fine nuances of meaning or things left half-expressed or even unsaid-in short, ready to listen between the lines?

9. The best interviewers are those who enjoy people and are eager to learn more about the people they meet--and who are eternally curious about darned near everything.

10. Your reputation precedes you. Any veteran interviewee will likely inquire about you and your methods. Journalists known to be fair, accurate, complete, and temperate (FACT acronym) usually enjoy better cooperation than those who are unfair, inaccurate, etc.

11.Your own demeanor is important. Avoid arrogance. Smile a lot, laugh uproariously at silly attempts at humor, and try to put joy and spirit into the conversation.

12. It's important that you communicate your interview purpose precisely, even dramatically. Show that you believe in the purpose of your interview and are enthusiastic about it. Sometimes the explanation itself will send the respondent on the right track with little or no further questioning.

13. A pattern for questioning-chronological, for example-is useful. Another pattern goes by the acronym GOSS: GOALS (what do you want to achieve?), OBSTACLES (what stands in the way of achievement?), SOLUTIONS (how did you or will you remove the obstacles?), and START (how did it all begin?). A pattern for observation: SCAM: Setting, Character, Action, Meaning.

14. Small talk helps, not only at the icebreakng stage but throughout the interview. Don't dominate the conversation-10-20% of it is enough.

15. Probes-followup quesfions-are essential. It's seldom the fast question that gets to the heart of the matter it's the seventh, or maybe 16th-questions you didn't know you were going to ask but have chosen to ask because of your careftil, thoughtful listening.

16. Writers: Probe for anecdotes--that is, for illustrative stories that will make moments come alive in your writing. Work to obtain specific information-the more detailed the better.

17. Rejoice audibly and often when source rewards you with (1) anecdotes, (2) examples, (3) quotable quotes and metaphorical expressions ('I'm like a master mechanic tinkering under the hood of government," says H. Ross Perot.)

18. If it's metaphorical quotes you want, try employing metaphorical questions. ("Governor, do you hope to hit a home run with this legislative proposal?")

19. Listening includes non-verbal demonstration--listening with the eyes, with smiles and nods, and by avoiding signs that you're not listening (such as slumped body posture).

20. Writers: If something happens in an interview that causes you both to laugh, consider recreating it as a scene for your story-make your readers laugh, too.

21. Interview for crossroads (significant decisions made in any situation) and epiphanies (what nugget of leaming has come from the experience?).

22. Avoid asking people how they "feel" about _____. It's the most trite, overused question in American journalism and sources begin to hate it after time. A good substitute: "What were you thinking when ____?"

23. Avoid using the term "interview." Call it a "conversafion" or "discussion" or "chat."

24. Don't be afraid to drop names. If you've talked to people your source holds in high regard, don't hesitate to suggest that "Warren Christopher says you have some good ideas on international relations," or "Your mother sends her regards says I should ask about the time you hit Gerald Ford on the head with a golf hall."

26. Reporting is fun, and the most fan is talking to people.

27. Your age (if young) is not a liability--most people enjoy the role of "teacher."

28. Your "shyness" (if any)-same deal, particularly if you show careful listening.

29. Even when you're saying little or nothing, you're conveying information (through body language, paralanguage (voice inflections), even the fact that you are male or female.

30. It's not the questions you ask that make for a successful interview but the attention you pay to the answers you receive.

32. If you expect people to reveal themselves, try revealing a little of yourself and (especially) your purpose in asking a particular line of questions.

33. Women are different from men.