Effective interviewing is not only an art, it is like a dance. As the interviewer, you take the lead with your subject. To choreograph this opportunity to gather information takes preparation and training.

Whether you are writing an article or conducting an on-air interview, creating a conducive atmosphere for your subject is essential to getting those needed quotes or soundbites. But depending on who is being interviewed and the angle of the story determines how this dance gets played out.

Sometimes you are blessed with someone who has the gift for gab. If you are doing a softball piece, this will likely be a breeze. However, this does not always insure the best interview. People who like to talk will sometimes take over, while you fill your notepad with endless doodles. And if you are live or recording for on-air, you're burning precious time and your audience will likely tune out.

That's why it is important to research your topic and know your subject to some degree. As with dancing, you practice your moves and anticipate the answers leading you from one step to the next. Your knowledge of these topics and being able to demonstrate an appreciation for your new partner will impress. It's especially helpful when you are questioning someone who might be unfamiliar to the interviewing game.

Interview killers are short answers. Using open-ended questions is an effective tool to pry loose those words. But when you have someone who is stiff and doesn't get into the flow of this game, follow-up questions can break the ice. And it's as simple as asking questions like, Why do you say that? or What is the significance of that?

If you sense your subject might have some jitters, you can conduct a pre-interview meet and greet. Depending on the type of interview calls into question how cozy you become with your subject. As a beat reporter in a rural community, my station boss would encourage me to make use of my expense account. One example would be to bring a bag of donuts on routine police station visits. Building relationships with potential subjects with public officials like these seems harmless, and it comes in handy later when that big story breaks.

If what you are attempting is more of an investigative piece, trips to the bakery are out of the question. But, you don't want to start out treating your subject like a hostile witness either. Landing a big interview is the most difficult part, and having built a reputation in your market and with your work goes a long way toward building trust. But, that doesn't always get your foot in the door.

Seldom seen are the reporters who will walk into a corporate office with tape rolling, asking pointed questions. Makes for great movie moments, but the political and social ramifications of such a move, while gutsy, will likely turn out badly for the interviewer. You just take what you can get by nibbling around the edges and hope you can get to the heart of the story with persistence and luck.

I have worked in newsrooms from local newspapers to radio and television, even worked up some press releases for a communications department at a public university. It really gives one perspective and an appreciation to see who will lead the interviewing dance. As the reporter, you can become a wallflower or the Belle of the ball.

Learn more about this author, Brian Keith Compton.
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