US Army Journalist - Course - Survival Books

Lesson 4. Learning Event 5Turning an interview into a friendly conversation is impossible ifthe reporter has failed to establish rapport at the outset. Andvery often this friendly feeling can begin way back when thereporter did all the tedious research and stumbled across somethingof interest to the subject which can be used as an icebreaker.Most sources are readily impressed and become more willing to passalong information, when they see by the reporter's questions thatthe reporter has done his homework. The unprepared reporter whogives his subject the impression that every basic fact of a topicmust be explained in detail comes away from the interview with ashallow news or feature story.Maintain Military CourtesyA word of caution about interviewing superiors in the militaryservice. Never say "huh" to a general officer. One young armyjournalist attending the first range firing of a new weaponssystems got caught up in the excitement of the event. Walking upto the division commander, the private first class said, "I guessyou're pretty proud of this, huh?" It was a 20-minute run back tohis office, where the journalist reported to his public affairsofficer that they had an "interview" with the commanding generalimmediately. Always treat superiors with the respect and dignitydue their rank and position.By the same token, don't be cowed by a subject's rank. Thoughtfuland valid questions are seen by commanders as opportunities to passalong critical information to their troops and to the public.Don't Lose Control of the InterviewThis may require the writer to restate questions tactfully and toturn conversations back to the subject of the interview. Allowingthe source to do limited rambling may elicit information the writerneeds, but uncontrolled rambling may provide the writer with moundsor unusable information and few of the facts he needs. Control iseasier when questions are organized and written prior to theinterview. Additional questions may arise during the interview,but the written questions provide a framework for conducting andcontrolling the interview.40