What I've Learnt About Interviewing People

My journalism career has only just started, but I've already learnt so much about people and how to talk to them.

My first interview was over the phone, with a young student activist who was passionate about his cause. In the moments leading up to it, my mind was focused on the logistics- the grammar of my questions, the quality of my recording device etc.

The interview was great. My subject was happy to chatter on about his cause and I worked through my nerves to deliver the questions I had carefully constructed.

An an hour later, after transcribing every word to the T, I realised that the interview had no substance.

I stepped back to assess the situation. What were his motives? What were mine? Did my questions serve the right purpose? Did they help me or did they help him? As a rookie I was (and to be honest, still am) desperate for answers of any kind.

But I learnt that preparation is key. When writing good interview questions I had to understand my subject’s motives. Am I promoting their agenda? Do my questions challenge them?

A month later I spoke to him again. This time I had a fresh perspective on my story, and my questions took him off guard to say the least. The first time round, I failed to pick up on his body language. As an activist who had travelled around the country promoting his cause, his answers were subconsciously scripted. In the second interview, his answers felt more profound. I challenged him and his responses reflected that.

People are are complex and nothing can prepare you for a face-to-face interview. There is something quite startling about sitting down with a stranger and expecting them to tell you the personal details of their life.

In my most recent interview, I approached my subject over the phone, and he was quite happy to talk. An hour later, I sat down with him and suddenly the little things like his posture and where he placed his hands became apparent. His tone was clear, and the emphasis he put on certain words were more pronounced. Let's just say I walked away from that interview with a different perspective. Had I spoken to him over the phone, I couldn't have observed the little details that made my story come alive.

I learnt the importance of putting bias aside. Going into the interview, I had good questions, but in the back of my mind the story was already written. When I sat down with my subject, I had an expectation of what he would say and I wasn't ready for alternatives.

Our conversation became a constant feedback cycle as I adapted my body language to his and changed my questions to better suit his vibes. Like walking through the dark, my awareness of the little details was heightened. I had fifteen minutes to figure out this stranger, knowing full well I had one chance to get it right.

You can't expect someone to divulge their most personal experiences. But if you can gain their trust, they might just let you in. To approach someone you've never met, extract parts of their life and leave isn't easy. The morality of it makes no sense to me, but I'm learning.