Interviewing

I see my job as a sort of committed, engaged traveling messenger. And part of conveying information well is the ability to listen. I want to listen to you. I want to hear your story. I want to hear what you were thinking when that happened, how that made you react, what you did next, and what you wish happened after that. 

Your story is really special. I don't want to share it incorrectly. I want to hear you.

That is the essence of a good interview: two people listening to each other. 

This is why I try not to conduct interviews over email or text. Those are not interviews. Those digital, text-based exchanges will need to be labeled as such in the final piece. 

Ideally, I would sit with you in person and hear your story firsthand. But we have busy schedules. Phone interviews and video calls are still interviews in my book, and will be called such in their respective articles.

I work to record all my interviews. I do so because I make sure I can go back and listen again. I record our conversation for your sake, to make sure that I don't mix something up. Telling someone else your story is scary enough. Having them improperly share it is even worse. I don't want to do mess that up.

Only after listening to everyone is where I put pen to paper, and say what I have to say. And often, the final piece is just as much your words as it is mine.

I want to use your words, phrases, and insights in order to tell the story. 

Journalists have three widely-accepted levels of quoting: On-Record, On-Background, and Off-Record. You've probably heard these terms before. Here's what they mean:

On-Record: If we're On-Record, I'm operating on the understanding that I can use the things you say, as well as your name. This is the default, standing expectation. If you tell me something, I can publish it, with you name.

On-Background: If we're On-Background, we have agreed that I will not use your name when I quote you. We have agreed that you can be an anonymous source. This is not to say that I guarantee your quotes are in the final story. But if I do quote you, your name won't be attached, per our agreement. I can't quote you by name, and anonymously in the same article. 

Off-Record: If we're speaking Off-Record, we have agreed that I'm not going to quote you. You can speak freely. I may use the information you share to do more research, or reach out to more sources. But I won't be quoting you.

For fact reporting and hard news, speaking on-record is the general expectation. But when I'm working on longer stories, ones that deal with much more sensitive topics, I communicate to potential sources that the default is on-background. While reporting those stories, which I make clear in the interview request, the things you say to me are not publishable, unless we agree to do an on-record interview. Sensitive topics include reporting on the inner workings of private businesses and organizations, as well as stories that might endanger a source's immigration status.

Agreeing to be interviewed means allowing me to ask whatever questions I deem necessary. 

It's not truly an interview if I'm not allowed to ask certain questions, or steer clear from hard topics. I want to be respectful, and decent - of course! But sometimes I have to be all those things while also asking hard questions.

This is standard practice at major news agencies, like the Associated Press >

While I have to be free to ask, you have to be free to decline to answer. The agreement we enter into during any interview is the expectation that we are both free to say, and not say, what we want.

If you're a public official, and your silence carries weight, your refusal might be part of my final story. But I don't intend to use your silence as a substitute for more reporting. You refusing to answer my questions doesn't not necessarily imply anything. And I want to be sure that I'm reporting the truth as much as possible.

This is standard practice at major news agencies, like the Associated Press >

I want your input, of course. But I can't let you have the final say over the story I write. The public invests trust in journalists to give as truthful information as possible. 

Sometimes that's means more than just your side of the story. That's okay. Your perspective is still valuable. 

Sometimes, the truth conflicts with my idea of the story. That's why I have editors, to keep me accountable to the facts.

At the end of the day, doing an interview with me is an act of trust in my ability to tell the story as best I can. I think I'm worthy of that. You can see the dozens of articles and radio documentaries I've created before I've even completed my journalism degree. 

But if you think differently, that's alright. And I hope to convince you, eventually ;)

This is standard practice at major news agencies, like the Associated Press >

Sometimes, you may not want your name associated with my story. That's understandable. It can feel scary to speak out. Let's talk about it! Journalists are uniquely positioned to use anonymous sources, vouching for their accuracy, while obscuring their name.

If you don't want your name in my story, I will ask you: why? That's just so I can communicate to my readers why I can't reveal your name.

I will never reveal your name if we have agreed that our interview, or portions of it, are anonymous. We would then be speaking On-Background.

Generally, I want to make sure that the public understands who I'm talking to. That builds trust, and keeps me accountable. 

When I'm writing for a publication, my editors have to agree to let me use an anonymous source. Often, you and I will have to negotiate what kind of descriptors we're okay to use, so that the public understands why your perspective is important to the story. 

For fact reporting and hard news, I hold myself to the rigorous standards of the Associated Press, which restricts the use of anonymous sources to situations where the information is unobtainable by other means. In long-form features, where ideas and opinions are explored, I'm more lenient. 

I know you still might be curious about something that I haven't covered here. Or you have a follow up question about one of the previous explanation. Reach out. I'd love to answer your questions, quell any fears. 

Just send me a message using the means by which I contacted you, and we can talk!