Media students –and professionals—often need to interview their sources. You want to make sure you’re prepared. Whether you’re new to interviewing or a seasoned pro, there is always room to improve your skills.
Here are three quick tips from College of Media instructor Emily Corio on how to prepare for interviewing someone.
- Do your research. Research the person you will interview and research the topic you're covering. We'll save tips on researching for another day.
- Make a list of questions. What do you know? What do you need to know? You'll want to ask questions to confirm information and to gain new information.
- Know your equipment. Practice using it before your interview. Carry extra batteries and/or SD cards as needed.
Emily Corio is the journalism chair and a teaching associate professor at the College of Media. She currently teaches podcasting and broadcast writing and reporting. Corio is an award-winning reporter and spent a decade working in public media as a journalist prior to joining the College.