Transcript
Page 1: Optimizing Interview Opportunities Conducting Interviews with Intelligence and Expedience

Optimizing Interview Optimizing Interview OpportunitiesOpportunities

Conducting Interviews with Conducting Interviews with Intelligence and ExpedienceIntelligence and Expedience

Page 2: Optimizing Interview Opportunities Conducting Interviews with Intelligence and Expedience

Who Am I? Keith D’OriaWho Am I? Keith D’Oria

Managing Editor, Managing Editor, Physician’s WeeklyPhysician’s Weekly Hospital-based medical news service Hospital-based medical news service Medical news, technological advances, practice Medical news, technological advances, practice

management, clinical updates, and CMEmanagement, clinical updates, and CME Meet the overwhelming demands of the busy clinician Meet the overwhelming demands of the busy clinician

Managing Editor, Patient Education Center (Medical Group Managing Editor, Patient Education Center (Medical Group Management Association + Management Association + Physician’s WeeklyPhysician’s Weekly)) Multimedia information service for medical group Multimedia information service for medical group

practices and their patientspractices and their patients Designed to improve physician-patient communications, Designed to improve physician-patient communications,

medication compliance, and patient outcomes medication compliance, and patient outcomes

Page 3: Optimizing Interview Opportunities Conducting Interviews with Intelligence and Expedience

Preview of DiscussionPreview of Discussion

Before interviewBefore interview

During interviewDuring interview

After interviewAfter interview

TroubleshootingTroubleshooting

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Have You Experienced This?Have You Experienced This?

You get the assignment, do the research, You get the assignment, do the research, and chase down the intervieweeand chase down the interviewee

In the interview, the interviewee becomes:In the interview, the interviewee becomes: Short-windedShort-winded Long-windedLong-winded Convoluted or wishy washyConvoluted or wishy washy Non-newsworthyNon-newsworthy

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Before the InterviewBefore the Interview

Preparation is the key!Preparation is the key!

Learn all you can.Learn all you can.

Use your resources.Use your resources.

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Before the Interview (Cont.)Before the Interview (Cont.)

Know Before You Go:Know Before You Go: Outline how you want your story to go.Outline how you want your story to go. Collaborate with others.Collaborate with others. If you’re freelancing, make sure you know If you’re freelancing, make sure you know

EXACTLYEXACTLY what’s expected of you. what’s expected of you. Get directions/instructionsGet directions/instructions What do you want to eventually say in your What do you want to eventually say in your

story?story?

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Before the Interview (Cont.)Before the Interview (Cont.)

Preparation Critical: Preparation Critical: Information gathering.Information gathering. Get the full studies relating to the topic. Get the full studies relating to the topic. Abstracts are only half the game.Abstracts are only half the game. Go to reliable resources. Go to reliable resources.

Medical associations/societies.Medical associations/societies.

Beware of the Internet!Beware of the Internet!

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Before the Interview (Cont.)Before the Interview (Cont.)

Make phone calls/e-mails to learn more. Make phone calls/e-mails to learn more. Take adequate time. Take adequate time.

Gives you a good idea on the overall scope of the Gives you a good idea on the overall scope of the topic – and direction. topic – and direction.

Use all of your resources: Use all of your resources: Previous acquaintances. Previous acquaintances.

Family friends. Family friends.

Former contacts. Former contacts.

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During the InterviewDuring the Interview

Stroke the ego.Stroke the ego.

Be up front.Be up front.

Record the conversation.Record the conversation.

Pay attention.Pay attention.

Questions that matter.Questions that matter.

Know your audience.Know your audience.

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During the Interview (Cont.)During the Interview (Cont.)

Stroke the EgoStroke the Ego Tell the interviewee you’ve seen his/her workTell the interviewee you’ve seen his/her work Confirm titles, affiliationsConfirm titles, affiliations

Be Upfront/Explain Your Operating ProcedureBe Upfront/Explain Your Operating Procedure What will take place?What will take place? Explain timeframes.Explain timeframes. Explain your goals.Explain your goals. Tell the interviewee about word counts, if necessary .Tell the interviewee about word counts, if necessary .

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During the Interview (Cont.)During the Interview (Cont.)

Tape Record the ConversationTape Record the Conversation Take notes during the interview.Take notes during the interview. Dissect what was said.Dissect what was said. Take a fact-checking approach.Take a fact-checking approach.

Pay Attention!Pay Attention! Ask questions if you’re unsure.Ask questions if you’re unsure. Allow time for anecdotes/personal Allow time for anecdotes/personal

experiences.experiences.

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During the Interview (Cont.)During the Interview (Cont.)

Ask Questions that MatterAsk Questions that Matter ““Scope” the problem.Scope” the problem. Identify barriers to care.Identify barriers to care. Overcoming those barriers.Overcoming those barriers. Remember these goals: Remember these goals:

Enact change in thinking, procedures, etc. Enact change in thinking, procedures, etc.

Get to the point quickly – interviewees have limited Get to the point quickly – interviewees have limited timetime

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During the Interview (Cont.)During the Interview (Cont.)

Know your audience:Know your audience:

Potential “Home Run” Questions.Potential “Home Run” Questions. When writing for physicians:When writing for physicians:

Why is it important that physicians realize how big a problem Why is it important that physicians realize how big a problem this is?this is?

Why are physicians failing to recognize this problem?Why are physicians failing to recognize this problem?

What can physicians do to best fix the problem?What can physicians do to best fix the problem?

If you were teaching a course to physicians on this topic, If you were teaching a course to physicians on this topic, what messages would you want conveyed to the class?what messages would you want conveyed to the class?

What are some messages that physicians should take home What are some messages that physicians should take home from this article?from this article?

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During the Interview (Cont.)During the Interview (Cont.)

If you’re writing for consumers:If you’re writing for consumers:What are the key points that consumers should What are the key points that consumers should recognize when considering this problem?recognize when considering this problem?How can consumers approach these problems How can consumers approach these problems proactively?proactively?Are there prevention methods that patients need to Are there prevention methods that patients need to take?take?What are the key things that patients should ask What are the key things that patients should ask their doctors?their doctors?Where can patients find more information about Where can patients find more information about topic ‘XYZ’?topic ‘XYZ’?

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During the Interview (Cont.)During the Interview (Cont.)

Interviewee ReviewInterviewee Review Critical, but often overlooked.Critical, but often overlooked. You’ll generate a better story.You’ll generate a better story. Shows the interviewee: Shows the interviewee:

You care about their input.You care about their input.

You care about factual accuracy.You care about factual accuracy. Allow the interviewee to expand upon your Allow the interviewee to expand upon your

work.work.

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After the InterviewAfter the Interview

Transcribe it yourself.Transcribe it yourself.

The thank you note.The thank you note.

Writing copy.Writing copy.

Following your own lead.Following your own lead.

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After the Interview (Cont.)After the Interview (Cont.)

Transcribe the tape yourself:Transcribe the tape yourself: Cut out the extraneous stuffCut out the extraneous stuff Obtain the real points that the interviewee Obtain the real points that the interviewee

may or may not articulate wellmay or may not articulate well Meet deadlines faster (this can add money to Meet deadlines faster (this can add money to

your pockets!)your pockets!)

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Thank You NoteThank You Note

Send a confirmation note to the interviewee – Send a confirmation note to the interviewee – preferably emailpreferably email Do it immediately after the interview (think job Do it immediately after the interview (think job

application) – shows the interviewee you care about application) – shows the interviewee you care about their input. their input.

Thank them for the time.Thank them for the time. Re-establish your timeframes, deadlines, etc.Re-establish your timeframes, deadlines, etc. Inform them when they can see it in print.Inform them when they can see it in print. Offer to send a copy of the finished product.Offer to send a copy of the finished product. Allows you to develop that resource for future writing Allows you to develop that resource for future writing

opportunities.opportunities. Ask questions, if need be.Ask questions, if need be.

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After the InterviewAfter the Interview

Writing Copy:Writing Copy: Involve the interviewee.Involve the interviewee. Get copy close to “perfect”.Get copy close to “perfect”. Offer a second or third review of the copy Offer a second or third review of the copy

after you’ve input their changes.after you’ve input their changes. Use your pre-interview information.Use your pre-interview information. Keep word counts in mind, if necessary. Keep word counts in mind, if necessary.

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Trouble-ShootingTrouble-Shooting

Too Little Information.Too Little Information.

Doctor Unresponsive.Doctor Unresponsive.

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Trouble-Shooting (Cont.)Trouble-Shooting (Cont.)

Too little information:Too little information: Use your resources.Use your resources. Go back to the interviewee with questions.Go back to the interviewee with questions. During article review, note where you are unclear.During article review, note where you are unclear. Insert notes if some studies refute what the Insert notes if some studies refute what the

interviewee said.interviewee said. Ask for backup information.Ask for backup information. Call/email expert groups (eg, societies & academic Call/email expert groups (eg, societies & academic

colleges) for backup information. colleges) for backup information. A 2nd or 3rd interviewee may need to be interviewed. A 2nd or 3rd interviewee may need to be interviewed.

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Trouble-Shooting (Cont.)Trouble-Shooting (Cont.)

Interviewee Unresponsiveness:Interviewee Unresponsiveness: You are awaiting the interviewee to review copy, but it You are awaiting the interviewee to review copy, but it

hasn’t been returned (don’t worry – it happens).hasn’t been returned (don’t worry – it happens). Try calling – emails often go unchecked, unanswered.Try calling – emails often go unchecked, unanswered. Try working through media reps at the interviewee’s Try working through media reps at the interviewee’s

institutions.institutions. Try working through the interviewee’s Try working through the interviewee’s

assistants/colleagues.assistants/colleagues. Solicit another interviewee close to the subject matter Solicit another interviewee close to the subject matter

to review the article.to review the article.

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ConclusionConclusion

Prepare, prepare, prepare!Prepare, prepare, prepare!

Get help before and after the interview.Get help before and after the interview.

Ask the interviewee questions.Ask the interviewee questions.

Explore all avenues to NOT sacrifice Explore all avenues to NOT sacrifice integrity of the article.integrity of the article.

Hit a home run rather than fly out. Hit a home run rather than fly out.

Get the most out of your work. It’ll only Get the most out of your work. It’ll only make your efforts better. make your efforts better.

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Thanks for your time.Thanks for your time.

Open Forum:Open Forum: Does anybody have any questions?Does anybody have any questions?


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