Interviewing for a feature article
I was flicking through some old uni notes on interviewing recently to find some pointers to help with an interview I need to do for a feature article. The last time I did an interview I used a microcassette-corder because I thought it would be quicker to record information this way rather than hastily scribbling down notes. But I made a few basic mistakes which meant I wasn’t able to collect as much information as I wanted.
If you use a microcassette-corder for your next interivew, here are a few points worth remembering:-
- Always ask the interviewee’s permission to record the interview
- Use a microcassette-corder if possible which is smaller and less intimidating than a large “ghetto blaster”
- Check the recording quality before you start (preferably at home before you leave for the interview in case you need to buy new batteries/tape)
- Check the pause button isn’t activated at any time during the interview
- Take some spare batteries (this was the mistake I made – I assumed the batteries in my recorder were fully “charged” when I started)
- Try and record the interview in a quiet place away from obtrusive noise. There’s nothing worse than playing the same part over and over again to try and decipher words over a noisy background.
- Never completely rely on the recorder. Takes notes as well (which I didn’t do because I had no spare batteries)
- Remember that a tape recorder will not provide you with correct spellings. If you are not sure how to spell certain names or places, be sure to interrupt your interviewee and ask
- If you are interviewing a number of people one after the other (which I had to do recently when collect bio info from badminton players), state who it is you are interviewing at the beginning of each interview, or remember to ask each person for their name.
I’ll blog more about interviewing again soon. If you have any good interviewing tips, why not share them? Or email me ruth@purplechameleon.com.au.