5.4 Interview techniques for audio journalism
3 min read•july 18, 2024
Audio interviews are a powerful tool for journalists to gather information and tell compelling stories. Preparation is key, from researching the to crafting that encourage detailed responses. and during the interview ensure a smooth conversation and capture valuable insights.
requires a keen ear and strategic thinking. Identifying the most , trimming unnecessary content, and creating a of clips helps craft a cohesive narrative. Smooth and appropriate enhance the final product, making it engaging for listeners.
Preparing for and Conducting Audio Interviews
Questions for audio interviews
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- interviewee's background, expertise, relevant experiences
- Consult published works, previous interviews, online presence to identify key topics and themes to explore
- Develop open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses
- Use "how," "why," "tell me about" to prompt elaboration and avoid yes/no questions or those answered briefly
- Structure questions in logical sequence
- Begin with easier, rapport-building questions then progress to more complex or sensitive topics
- Conclude by allowing interviewee to add any additional thoughts
- Prepare and be ready to adapt based on interviewee's responses
- Example follow-up: "You mentioned [topic], could you elaborate on how that impacted [related issue]?"
Active listening in conversations
- Maintain eye contact and use to show engagement
- Nod, smile, lean in to demonstrate interest and avoid distracting behaviors (checking phone, looking at notes)
- Allow interviewee to complete thoughts without interruption
- Resist urge to jump in or finish sentences and use brief pauses to encourage continuation or elaboration
- Ask when necessary
- Rephrase or summarize points to ensure understanding and request specific examples or anecdotes to illustrate ideas
- Take brief notes to capture key points and follow-up questions
- Jot down keywords, phrases, timestamps for later reference avoiding excessive note-taking that may disrupt conversation flow
- Example note: "12:35 - story about first job, ask about lessons learned"
Adapting Interview Styles and Incorporating Segments
Adapting interview styles
- Tailor approach based on interviewee's personality and comfort level
- Use for relaxed/informal subjects and more for experts/officials
- Adjust tone and language to match interviewee's communication style
- Mirror pace, volume, level of formality and use resonant terminology and references
- Be sensitive to and
- Research and respect cultural norms or taboos avoiding inappropriate or offensive topics/questions
- Adapt to interview setting and
- Be flexible and efficient in high-pressure or time-limited situations
- Take advantage of relaxed settings to build rapport and explore topics in-depth
- Examples: 10-minute phone call vs. 1-hour in-person meeting
Editing interview segments
- Review recorded interview to identify most compelling or relevant segments
- Look for quotes that succinctly capture key ideas/emotions and select segments that advance story's narrative or provide unique insights
- Trim filler words, false starts, irrelevant tangents
- Use natural pauses or breaths as edit points to maintain smooth flow preserving integrity of interviewee's message
- Create logical sequence of interview clips that supports story's structure
- Use segments to introduce topics, provide evidence, offer contrasting perspectives ensuring each clip contributes to overall narrative arc and theme
- Use appropriate transitions between interview segments and other audio elements
- Record brief or introductions to provide context and continuity
- Fade in/out or use natural ambient sound to smooth transitions between clips
- Example: "Next, we'll hear from [interviewee] about their experience with [topic]" fade out music, fade in interview clip
Key Terms to Review (31)
Active Listening: Active listening is a communication technique that involves fully focusing, understanding, responding, and remembering what the other person is saying. This technique is essential for building rapport and trust during interactions, making it vital for effective interviews and fostering community engagement. By demonstrating genuine interest and understanding through active listening, communicators can enhance the quality of their connections and ensure more meaningful exchanges.
Adaptability: Adaptability refers to the ability to adjust one's approach or behavior in response to changing circumstances or environments. In audio journalism, being adaptable means effectively managing various interview techniques and scenarios, allowing a journalist to engage with different subjects and settings while maintaining the quality of the content produced.
Attribution: Attribution refers to the process of identifying and crediting the source of information or ideas in journalism. In audio journalism, it's essential for maintaining credibility, as it allows listeners to understand where the information comes from and ensures transparency. Proper attribution not only builds trust with the audience but also gives due credit to the individuals or organizations that provided valuable insights during interviews.
Audio elements: Audio elements are the various components of sound that contribute to the overall auditory experience in audio journalism. These elements include dialogue, sound effects, music, and ambient sounds, each playing a crucial role in storytelling and engaging the audience. The careful selection and integration of these elements enhance the narrative and provide context, making audio content more immersive and impactful.
Call-to-action: A call-to-action is a statement or prompt designed to encourage an audience to take a specific action, such as engaging with content, sharing information, or making a decision. It plays a critical role in guiding the audience's response, helping them transition from passive consumption to active participation. This technique is especially important in audio journalism and data storytelling, as it helps shape the listener's engagement and response to the presented information.
Clarifying questions: Clarifying questions are inquiries made during a conversation or interview to gain a better understanding of the subject matter or to clarify ambiguous information. These types of questions help journalists ensure accuracy in their reporting and promote a deeper exploration of the topic being discussed. By seeking clarification, interviewers can draw out more specific details, enhance the flow of conversation, and ultimately enrich the narrative being developed in their audio journalism work.
Compelling quotes: Compelling quotes are powerful statements or remarks made during interviews that grab attention and resonate with audiences. They often capture the essence of a story, evoke emotion, and provide insight, making them vital in audio journalism where the impact of spoken words is essential.
Conversational style: Conversational style refers to a way of communicating that is informal, engaging, and approachable, often resembling a natural dialogue. This style is crucial in audio journalism as it helps create a more relatable and intimate atmosphere for listeners, allowing them to feel connected to the content and the speaker. Using a conversational style can enhance the interview experience by encouraging openness and honesty from subjects.
Cultural differences: Cultural differences refer to the variations in beliefs, values, customs, and practices that exist among different groups of people. These differences can influence communication styles, perspectives on social issues, and overall interaction dynamics, making it essential to recognize and respect them, especially in the context of interviewing diverse subjects.
Editing: Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, or audio material for publication or broadcast. In audio journalism, editing involves refining recorded interviews to enhance clarity, coherence, and engagement while preserving the essence of the conversation. It is crucial in ensuring that the final product conveys the intended message effectively and maintains the audience's attention.
Expert Interview: An expert interview is a structured conversation with an individual who possesses specialized knowledge or expertise in a particular field, aimed at gathering insights, opinions, or information that can enhance the quality and depth of a story. These interviews are essential in audio journalism as they lend credibility, provide valuable context, and help clarify complex topics for the audience.
Follow-up questions: Follow-up questions are inquiries posed after an initial question or response, designed to elicit more detailed information, clarify responses, or deepen the conversation. They play a crucial role in interviews, especially in audio journalism, as they help journalists probe deeper into the subject matter and gather richer content for their stories.
Interview segments: Interview segments are portions of recorded interviews that are selected for inclusion in audio journalism pieces. These segments are crafted to capture the most compelling, relevant, and informative moments of a conversation, providing listeners with insights and perspectives that enhance the storytelling experience. The selection and editing of these segments are crucial in shaping the narrative and ensuring that the audio piece resonates with its audience.
Interviewee: An interviewee is a person who is being interviewed, typically in the context of gathering information or personal narratives for audio journalism. Their responses, insights, and experiences are crucial for creating compelling stories that engage listeners. Interviewees provide the essential human element to audio pieces, enriching the narrative with their perspectives and authenticity.
Intonation: Intonation refers to the variation in pitch while speaking, which can convey different meanings, emotions, or emphasis in communication. In audio journalism, intonation plays a crucial role in shaping how an interview is perceived, affecting the listener's engagement and interpretation of the speaker's message.
Lapel Microphone: A lapel microphone, also known as a lavalier microphone, is a small, clip-on mic that can be attached to a person's clothing, allowing for hands-free operation while capturing audio. These microphones are popular in interviews and other audio journalism settings because they provide clear sound quality while remaining discreet and unobtrusive.
Listener retention: Listener retention refers to the ability of a podcast or audio journalism piece to keep its audience engaged throughout the entire episode. This concept is crucial as it indicates how well content resonates with listeners, affecting overall audience growth and engagement. High listener retention rates suggest that the material is compelling, informative, and effectively holds the audience's attention, while low rates might signal the need for improvements in content quality or presentation style.
Logical sequence: Logical sequence refers to the organized arrangement of ideas or events in a clear and coherent order, which helps listeners easily follow along and understand the narrative. In audio journalism, using a logical sequence ensures that the flow of information is smooth, maintaining listener engagement and comprehension throughout the piece.
Man-on-the-street: A man-on-the-street interview is a style of reporting where journalists ask everyday people for their opinions or experiences about a specific topic. This technique aims to capture the voice of the public, providing insight into various perspectives and allowing for a more relatable and engaging story. It often brings authenticity and spontaneity to audio journalism, making it a powerful tool for connecting audiences with real voices.
Narration: Narration refers to the act of telling a story or presenting information, often through a voice that guides the audience through an audio piece. In audio journalism, narration plays a crucial role in connecting interviews, sound bites, and ambient sounds, creating a cohesive and engaging narrative that helps the listener understand the context and significance of the content.
Nonverbal cues: Nonverbal cues are the subtle signals and body language that people use to communicate without words, including facial expressions, gestures, posture, and eye contact. These cues can enhance or contradict verbal messages, making them crucial for effective communication, especially during interviews where tone and body language can convey emotions and intentions.
Open-ended questions: Open-ended questions are inquiries that allow respondents to express their thoughts, feelings, or opinions in their own words, rather than being limited to a set of predefined answers. These questions encourage deeper conversation and exploration of topics, making them especially valuable in interviews and audio journalism for gathering rich, detailed responses.
Personal Boundaries: Personal boundaries are the limits and rules we set for ourselves within relationships, defining what we are comfortable with and how we want to be treated by others. They help protect our emotional and physical space, allowing us to maintain a sense of self while interacting with others. Understanding personal boundaries is crucial for effective communication and establishing healthy relationships in various contexts, including interviews.
Portable recorder: A portable recorder is a compact audio recording device designed for capturing high-quality sound in various environments, especially during interviews and field reporting. These devices are essential tools for audio journalists, enabling them to record interviews, ambient sounds, and other audio content on the go. Their lightweight and battery-operated nature allows journalists to easily carry them, making them versatile for various storytelling scenarios.
Rapport building: Rapport building is the process of establishing a connection or relationship with someone, often characterized by trust, understanding, and mutual respect. In audio journalism, this practice is crucial as it enables the reporter to create a comfortable atmosphere for interviewees, leading to more open and honest conversations. When rapport is established, interviewees are more likely to share deeper insights and personal stories, enhancing the quality of the audio content produced.
Research: Research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. It involves gathering information through various methods such as interviews, observations, and data analysis, which are essential in ensuring accuracy and depth in audio journalism.
Sound Editing: Sound editing is the process of selecting, arranging, and modifying audio elements to create a polished and cohesive audio experience. This includes cutting together interviews, adding sound effects, and adjusting levels to enhance clarity and emotion. In audio journalism, effective sound editing is essential for presenting compelling narratives and ensuring that the listener is engaged.
Sound transitions: Sound transitions refer to the techniques used to smoothly shift from one audio element to another in a recording. These transitions are crucial in audio journalism as they help maintain the listener's engagement and enhance the storytelling by providing a seamless flow between interviews, narration, and sound effects.
Structured approach: A structured approach is a systematic method that involves organizing and planning information gathering, analysis, and presentation in a clear and logical manner. This methodology allows journalists to craft interviews and narratives that effectively communicate their story while ensuring they cover all necessary elements, such as context, depth, and clarity. By using a structured approach, reporters can enhance the quality of their audio journalism through better preparation and follow-up questions.
Time constraints: Time constraints refer to the limitations imposed on the duration available for completing a task or achieving a goal. In audio journalism, these constraints can influence the pacing of interviews, the depth of questions asked, and the overall quality of the final audio piece. Journalists must be aware of how these limitations can affect not only their planning but also their ability to capture spontaneous moments that can enhance storytelling.
Transitions: Transitions refer to the techniques used to smoothly shift from one segment or idea to another in audio journalism and visual storytelling. They play a crucial role in maintaining the flow of a narrative, ensuring that the audience can follow along without confusion. Effective transitions help create a cohesive story, making it easier for listeners and viewers to stay engaged and understand the overall message.