The Art of the InterviewTalking to people and writing it up…

Preparation• Decide if you are going to interview face-to-

face or by phone. You need a “live” interview, not a Facebook chat or a fill-in-the-blank.

• Decide how you are going to capture the interviewee’s words. Will you record? How? Will you take notes? Will you type as they talk?

• Have a set of questions ready to ask.

Preparation• What do you know about this senior? If he/she

is a friend, you probably know a lot. If not, try to find out a few things…what activities or sports? Any honors or awards? Cool hobbies? Do they drive something awesome? What is different or SPECIAL about this person? Ask somebody who does know them.

• Knowing something in advance will help you ask good questions!

Contact Your Seniors• Find your senior and ask for a time when you

can ask him/her a few questions. • Lunchtime?• Advisory?• Before/After school?• Phonecall?

• It’s up to you whether you interview all 5 in a short period of time, or once a month…you choose. Keep due dates in mind and don’t wait until the last minute because seniors are busy people!

What to Say (if you don’t know what to say…)

Hi, My name is Finn Hudson. I’ve been asked to interview you for the “Senior Spotlight” in the

Heyworth Buzz. Would you have a few minutes during Advisory today?

Don’t worry, the seniors know you’re coming. I told them.

The Actual Interview…some tipsBe nice…or even enthusiastic. People like people who like them. They are also conditioned to think of an ‘interview’ as a potentially awkward situation and be on their guard. Consequently, you should be upbeat and positive. Do this genuinely if you can. Otherwise, engage your sincerity simulator.

I think you’re a great person!

The Actual Interview…some tipsAsk your Questions, but also listen hard. Sometimes you can pick up a word or a phrase in an answer which you can use to get something much more interesting. Interviews aren’t just scripted Q&As, they are actual conversations and you need to pay attention so that you can ask something BEYOND the questions on the paper.

The Actual Interview…some tipsBasic Info: be sure to have the interviewee check the basic info (name, parent’s names, spelling, etc.) that you’ve WRITTEN DOWN so that we get it right. People get VERY IRATE when you get things wrong in the newspaper.

My parents are Mark Jones and Joy Jones. Not Jody Jones. And they’re divorced, so it

should NOT be “Mark and Joy Jones” because then somebody’s going to be mad at dinner and

I don’t need that. Seriously.

Biggest Tip of All…Ask this Question:

And lastly, say…