INTERVIEWS AND COMMENT

Mary Evans

sayhello@maryevanswriter.com

WHAT ARE THEY?Interview

A feature focusing on an individual (or group) that uses their words to tell

their story.

Evans, M., (2012). Because I’m worth it.

WHAT ARE THEY?Comment (Also called ‘leader’ or

‘opinion’ pieces)

A feature written from the viewpoint of the author reflecting on a significant

issue.

Evans, M., (2012). Still here.

INTERVIEWSSelecting your victim interviewee: ‘So What’ – have they got a good story

to tell? Are you just pushing their product for

them? Do they want to talk to you? Life is often stranger than fiction

PLANNING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Past Present Future

What?

Where?

When?

How?

Who?

Why?

* Leave “Why” until the end – can sound judgemental

INTERVIEWING TIPS Look the part - be confident and savvy Listen – nod, ‘yes’, eye contact Silence is golden – people love to fill a

pause Ask and you’ll get – but avoid lazy

questions Devil’s in the detail – take notes, but

unobtrusively Smile! But not like a loony

QUESTIONSTwo types:

O P E N&

Closed

QUESTIONSClosed Questions:

Have a definite (often short) answer Are useful for warming interview up Give you factual detail

BUT Can result in one-word answers = not

good copy

QUESTIONSClosed Questions

How old are you? Where did you grow up? How many singles have you sold? Are you married? Is it right that you live with Rylan?

QUESTIONSOpen Questions:

Will receive more thorough (longer) answers

Provide opinions and feelings Give better quotes for your copy

BUT Can encourage the interviewee to waffle

on

QUESTIONSOpen Questions:

How do you feel about capital punishment?

What was your happiest moment? What keeps you awake at night? Describe your ideal date. Why do you love your job?

QUESTIONSDon’t forget - it’s all in the asking…

Do you watch Strictly Come Dancing? = closed

What do you think of this year’s Strictly contestants? = open

Should women bishops be ordained? = closed

How do you feel about the ordination of women bishops? = open

A GOOD PLAN…Open: Introduce yourself and smile

Questions – open and closedToolkit: Who, what, where, how, when, why?

Bucket questions:1) Is there anything else you want to tell me?2) Anyone else I can talk to?3) What pictures can I use for my story?4) Can I call you back if need be?

Close: Leave your number and THANK YOU!

DIFFICULT INTERVIEWSAggressive • Don’t be intimidated

• Be polite• Flatter them• Don’t lose control

Inarticulate/Evasive

• Make questions specific• Clarify what they’re saying by repeating it back to them• Use silences• Be persistent

Bigots • Be polite and retain self-control• Ignore what they say and forget your views• Stick to your agenda• Damn them in their own words

Condescending/Smoothies

• Don’t rise to bait• Stay professional• Use it to your advantage – play up to them

INTERVIEW STRUCTURE

This is their STORY – let them tell it You are the narrator – guide the story Use observations & anecdotes to colour

your piece Write in the third person – it’s not about

you (it is clear that; she fidgets nervously; the room speaks volumes…)

Consider ending on a strong quote

USING QUOTESThree kinds

1. Direct: “I’m a huge fan of naked skydiving,” says Bernard, 76, “although I do have a terrible problem with intimate chafing.”

2. Indirect: Bernard loves naked skydiving, but points out it’s not without risks – not least with regard to intimate chafing.

3. Partial: Bernard has been naked skydiving for many years. He enjoys the sport, but admits he has a “terrible problem” with “intimate chafing”.

PUNCTUATING QUOTESFull Quotes – using quotes instead of

sentence

“This is how you punctuate a full quote,” says Mary, 92, who started her career as a chimney sweep. “All the punctuation goes inside the quotation marks.”

She doesn’t like this way of doing it, but if you must, Mary says: “Always put a colon before the quote. This is now a full quote, so full stops go inside the quotation marks.”

PUNCTUATING QUOTESPartial Quotes – using quotes as part

of the sentence

When you use partial quotes “all the punctuation” goes outside the marks. It has been said that “if you get this wrong, somewhere a kitten dies”.

PUNCTUATING QUOTESLonger Quotes

“Sometimes, for layout or structure, quotes go over one paragraph.

“If this happens, you don’t close the quotes at the end of the first par, but you do put new ones at the beginning of the second.”

COMMENT WRITING

Who? What section of the readership and which person (ie open letter to the PM)

What emotion? What do you feel/think about this? What will your readers think?

Why? What point are you trying to make? Giving silent a voice? Raising awareness? Correcting a perceived wrong?

Has it worked? What response do you want? Outrage? Letters? Sympathy? Reply?

COMMENT WRITINGUseful tricks…

Simple contrast: not this, but that‘People think women want a sensitive man, when in fact most want a caveman.’

Puzzle – solution: rhetorical questions‘Is it right that children live below the poverty line in a world where 10% of the population own 90% of the wealth?’

Three part list: Yesterday, today, tomorrow‘We need to learn from the past, listen to the now and look to the future.’

That was then, this is now: ‘There was a time when it was acceptable for a man never to see the inside of a nappy. But not anymore.’

COMMENT WRITINGPotential pitfalls…

Working out the point Finding an effective style/voice Being upbeat Finding the facts to back an argument Devising a suitable emotion Avoiding whining/ranting

COMMENT WRITINGA bad comment will…

Sit on the fence – have no point Switch writing styles Lack emotion Omit facts & quotes Be long-winded and laborious Preach/tell people what to think

COMMENT WRITINGA good comment will…

Tell people what you want to happen Tell people why you want it to happen Tell people the consequences of it not

happening Offer some facts about situation and its

causes Tell them why again – but much

stronger

A FEW RANDOMS Features are always written in the

present tense (..,’ she says/reveals/stutters/snaps)

When using numbers:1 – 9 = words (ie one, two three)10+ = numerals (ie 13, 256, 13,486) Money is always figures (ie £5, £5000) Put titles of books, films, newspapers,

songs etc in italics (ie Twilight, The Sun, The Birdie Song)

Don’t refer to the interview

ASSIGNMENT Feature article, interview or comment

piece Assignment briefs on MyBU 1,000 words 20% unit total Due by noon Friday 11th Jan

THAT’S ALL FOLKS…

Thanks, Chickens.It’s been emotional.

LOL!!!!!