Midterm Flashcards
How do you prepare for an interview?
5 W’s and H
Research/find information
Arrange time and place (comfortable for both parties)
Be early so you can take a look at surroundings (5-10 minutes)
Questions prepared and back-up in case interview goes a different way
Appearance (good first impression)
Confident and ready for interview
Shake hands, look in the eye, introduce yourself, be friendly
Why do you research before an interview?
So you don’t ask crazy ?s
Never ask about a person’s background
What is the ideal setup for an interview?
There shouldn’t be a desk between you (barrier/power play)
You’re in control of the interview
Make sure you’re at an equal level
One person standing/one sitting = bad
What are the dos for an interview?
Listen and encourage
Make statements requiring confirmation (use as follow-up and at the beginning to get them warmed up)
Make eye contact (don’t stare at them, look down at notes, then back up again)
Use silence (use it judiciously)
Be clear with your questions (short and simple, 1 idea per question)
What are the don’ts for an interview?
Ask directive, suggestive, loaded or double barrel questions
React
Use trigger words
Use too many gestures (keep a poker face)
Don’t use leading questions
Don’t ask how do you feel? (instead ask background, what’s next, gain emotion from questions without asking how do you feel?)
Don’t interrogate, unless it’s a difficult interview
What are some challenging interviews?
Reluctant Inexperienced Business People Vulnerable Children Deaths PRs Celebrities Two vs. one
How do you interview reluctant people?
limit note-taking to make them comfortable
How do you interview inexperienced people?
let them know the direction the interview is going
How do you interview business people?
prior research is key, trained well in interviewing
How do you interview vulnerable people?
be sympathetic, work hard to gain trust, don’t betray trust once you get it
How do you interview children?
pick location wisely, open-ended questions, you have to have consent from parents if the interview is going to be published
How do you interview people dealing with death?
represent yourself honestly, be respectful, gain trust
How do you interview PRs?
be direct, understand they will try to control, stay in control, don’t let them sit behind you, don’t give them questions beforehand
How do you interview celebrities?
have PRs you must work with
How do you deal with two on one interviews?
work out in the beginning how questioning will work, don’t be afraid to butt in if the other person doesn’t stick to the plan arranged
What are the inherit problems with interviewing politicians?
Possible set answers
Promoting an agenda
What distractions do politicians use?
Red herring Steamrolling Put down Word-bridging Flat refusal
What is a red herring?
give you a piece of something, to push you off your story
What is steamrolling?
Keep talking over you
What is a put-down?
put you on the defense, “well that’s stupid, why would you ask that?”
What is word-bridging?
getting back to their main message through their answer
What is flat refusal?
refusing to answer a question
How do you deal with tough political interviews?
Stick to questions Stick to your point Research and have a strong background on interviewee Be confident Don’t be shy Persistence Cut them off If it gets really bad, point out they are the one in office and must answer your questions Do homework, don’t waste their time Control interview Rephrase question to get answer Make sure you can see PR person Never give questions ahead of time Don’t show your own politics Have tough skin Don't take gifts Remember it's a push/pull relationship
What questions are fair vs. off-limits?
Questions that pertain to issues are fair questions
(Rob Emmanuel- kids in Chicago schools)
Private life not pertaining to issues are not appropriate
What is defamation?
Defamation-false, intentional communication that injures a person’s reputation, umbrella term for libel
What is libel?
written defamatory statement
What must be proven to prove libel?
Identification Publication Fault/Falsity Damages (Hard to win a libel case)
How is proving fault different for public vs. private figures?
Public figures- actual malice
Private figures- negligence
What are the 4 privacy torts?
Intrusion
Private Facts
False light
Misappropriation
What is intrusion?
physical unauthorized entry into a person’s private space
What are private facts?
publication of private facts that are private that would be embarrassing but not newsworthy (Politician going tanning)
What is false light?
publication of distorted of fabricated information
Like libel
Most states don’t recognize
What is misappropriation?
protects people from unauthorized commercial use of their names, photos, and aspects of their “public personas” (Kim K diet pills)
How do defamation/libel/privacy torts relate to interviewing?
It relates to interviewing because journalists have to be careful not to violate any of these laws. Reporters also need to know the defenses to libel, in case an interviewee were to sue. The defenses are: truth, privilege, fair comment. Journalists also need to know how to protect themselves from being sued for libel: make/keep accurate notes, possibly persuade interviewee to make a signed statement confirming their words, have your story checked by the legal counsel before you publish. Libel, defamation, and privacy torts are all something journalists need to know and be in the habit of making sure they do not violate any of these laws
What are the defenses to libel?
Truth
Privilege
Fair Comment
How can a journalist protect them self from being sued for libel?
make/keep accurate notes
possibly persuade interviewee to make a signed statement confirming their words
have your story checked by the legal counsel before you publish
What are reporter shield laws?
Laws in place stating that reporters do not have to disclose their sources of information.
