In Class:
Warm-up-- Think about a film, TV show, or (storytelling) song that you have seen recently. Write a newspaper article using a strong lede and the inverted pyramid (ice-cream cone) to tell the story.
Lecture in Interview Techniques
First, you must identify SOAP:
Subject-- What or who is the piece about?
Occasion-- What inspires or prompts the piece?
*News peg: What makes this subject newsworthy?
Audience-- Who is this piece intended for? Who would be interested in reading it?
Purpose-- What is the desired effect of publishing this piece?
The two genres of purpose guiding interviews are for news interview or profile.
news interview: the purpose is to gather information to explain an idea, event, or situation in the news. profile: the focus is on an individual, usually incorporating a news peg. [This is the style you will be using for your journalist assignments.]
Key elements of a profile:
* Person’s background (birth, upbringing, education, occupation)
* Anecdotes (stories) involving the subject
* Quotes!
* Reporter observations
* Comments from associated people
* News peg
Four Guiding Principles for Any Interview:
1. Prepare carefully: research, devise a tentative theme, prepare questions and/or question topics, and anticipate responses.
2. Establish a ‘productive’ relationship with the source.
3. Ask questions that are relevant and encourage candid, open talking (open-ended and follow-up questions).
4. Listen and watch attentively: “Great reporters are great listeners.” Use quotes for communication and credibility.
As a class, we read "Stephen Pinker: Human Nature's Pathologist" and inferred the approach Carl Zimmer took in his interview process.
Independently, students practiced interview preparation techniques:
* Identify a personal hero of yours that you would like to interview.
* Research basic background info. (birth, upbringing, occupation, education, & newsworthiness)
* Write 10 open-ended interview questions.
* Write a potential (anticipated) response for each question.
(See right).
Exit ticket: What does SOAP stand for?
Homework:
Finish your hypothetical interview preparation assignment.
3+ tweets due by Monday.
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