On-the-street Interviewing
(Note: If you are using a voice recorder, ask if they mind being recorded and tell them you use the recorder to make certain the quotes are accurate. If they object, politely turn it off or put it away and take notes. By law in the United States, you must have permission. Check your batteries.) In preparation: Ask yourself, aaj ki news
what do you and your readers need to know? What might your readers like to know? What about this story might pique their interest and what is it that is important for them to know? As a reporter, you are often making these kinds of decisions. Jot down pertinent questions so you don’t go blank in the middle of an interview. Keep these by you. hindi news paper
But be careful – some of the most interesting anecdotes and quotes come from questions that developed talking to someone – not from your list. Ask interviewees for detail and for stories, anecdotes and memories. Interviews will likely be a mix of long, medium, short and non-existent. (The latter when someone declines to talk to you.)
On-the-street interviews differ from sit-down-and-talk interviews. When you are on the street, notebook and recorder in hand, the questions and answers tend to be shorter, quicker and less in-depth and that’s if you can get anyone to talk to you. They are offthe-cuff: No appointment was set up, no background work completed, no biographies read. So, for you first time out, follow these suggestions. As you get more comfortable doing this, you will develop your own way of street interviewing. For this story you are looking for: 1. Opinions and thoughts 2. Anecdotes and stories 3. Attitude 4. Background information 5. The critical ‘why’ questions -- what led them to having these opinions of SJSU 6. Don’t forget: Full name correctly spelled, year in school and major 7. And at the end always ask something along the line of "And do you have any other thoughts?? Anything I haven't asked you about?" 8. Then thank them
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