Group 2 e-mini Booklet

Group 2’s Mini E-Booklet on Conducting interviews in Journalism for Science and Health Stories DPC 2109 Published December, 2020 By Janita George Raulene Kendall

Table of Contents Page 2 Page 3 Introduction Page 4 Preparation General Pointers for conducting Page 4 interviews with scientists and persons Page 5 in health care Page 6 Specific tips for interviews for print Page 7 Page 8 General Tips for conducting interviews Page 9 Techniques for after the interview is done Page 10 Page 11 What to avoid when conducting Page 12 interviews Conclusion Bibliography 1

Introduction A January 2016 article from informalscience.org stated that “science journalism at newspapers, magazines, and in documentary TV formats contributes significantly to public understanding and knowledge.” This does not say exactly what “Science Journalism” is but one can immediately see how important it is. Science journalism in a nutshell conveys reporting about science to the public. The field typically involves interactions between scientists, journalists, and the public. According to Hudson and Rowlands (2007) in the world of broadcasting, the interview is also one of the most important ways of providing information to viewers and listeners. They defined the interview as a structured conversation, but it’s not a conventional conversation in which both people are interested in what the other has to say. It is instead, a series of questions and answers, where only one party – the interviewer – is asking the questions. It follows that an interview is only as good as the questions that are asked. There are different types for Interviews. Some are live on air, some are recorded and then transcribed for print media, and some are recorded, edited and played in the future. Whichever way, interviews for a large part of the news gathering process for journalists. 2

This assignment will focus on the techniques used for preparing and conducting an interviews in journalism when reporting on Science and Health stories for broadcast and print media. Preparation What to do before a live broadcast interview with a medical professional, a scientist or even a patient? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWDL_UYMc7Q&t=10s 3

General Pointers for conducting interviews with scientists and persons in health care To the viewer and listener, an interview might look spontaneous and even relaxed, but it is a highly structured conversation between two people, hence the need for detailed preparation prior to the actual interview Chapman and Kingsey (2008). Here are some general tips when interviewing for Science and Health Stories for print and broadcast. 4

1. Do your research on the area and also the doctor. This will help you compose great questions and let the doctor know you did your homework and can help you establish a relationship and may spark some interesting questions. 2. Schedule the interview in advance. Adding an interview to a hectic day can be difficult for doctors to do. To win space in a tightly booked schedule. 3. Prepare the doctor. Once you have an interview scheduled, work on your questions. Send them to the doctor ahead of time. Having the questions in advance may yield more thorough answers from your source. 4. Push past the jargon. Bring it down to earth! a. At the start of the interview, remind the doctor this story is aimed at a nonmedical audience. b. If unclear, clarify by asking to rephrase, explain and also ask follow-up questions to ensure that your interpretation of what was said is accurate. Ask for details! c. Asking the doctor to explain it to you as if you were a patient may also be useful for the audience to understand. 5. Add a personal touch. Including personal details helps to humanize a doctor so readers can connect. You can ask: a. What attracted you to this medical specialty? b. Do you come from a medical family? c. What do you, your spouse and children like best about where you live? 6. Wrap it up with an open-ended question. End by asking the doctor if there's anything he or she would like to add that wasn't discussed in the interview. You never know if you've missed an important question or area of interest. 5

1. Define your purpose. a. Be specific. Both parties should have a clear understanding of the purpose of the interview and who the audience is. 2. Set a date and time. a. Set and confirm the time (and time zones!) at least once after making the appointment. 3. Do your research. a. Search or ask the scientist in advance for links/PDFs of scientific papers they have written, or news clips about their research or their area of research. b. Know enough about your topic to ask a few key questions. c. Review your sources’ backgrounds and potential biases. d. If you are reporting on a study, READ IT first, take notes, and ask questions based on your notes during the interview. e. Be as specific as you can about what you want to know. (Chad Orzel) 4. Clearly explain the interview process and your story to your sources. Scientists may be brilliant, but they also may not know how different journalism is from their own world of publications, which are months, if not years, in the making. 5. Master the art of active listening. a. Be in tune with where the interview is going, what you’ve got so far and what other information you need. b. Listen actively. c. Listen with an open mind and without being stuck in your own agenda. d. Respond to what the source says in response to your questions; don’t just forge ahead into new and different topics because you are sticking to your list of questions. 6. LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION. a. Pick a good location. Find a place where there is minimal distraction and high comfort for your sources. Your studio may not be convenient for them and may make them nervous. b. If in person – meet in the lab or field, or other space where research is done! 7. Connect. Smile, and look the interviewee in the eyes without staring. 8. Ask open-ended questions. 9. Say it back! a. Repeat answers or summarize them to your sources to confirm that you accurately understand what your sources are saying, what it means and why it matters to your audience. The scientist WILL correct you if you don’t! 6

Specific tips for interviews for print While all of what has been mentioned in previous chapters are applicable techniques, when it comes to print, there are some other considerations that should be made. 1. Take your recorder to record the entire interview and also a notebook to jot down anything that stands out. 2. Ask permission to record. 3. Recording the interview (on 2 devices – have a back-up) can help you connect with the interviewee better than if you have to stare down and write the whole time. 4. Be quiet and listen. Don't interrupt, don't correct, and don't edit. You'll write later. 5. Don't try to write down every word. Jot down details about the person, surroundings, action, and phrases that strike you as interesting or telling. You can always follow up later for the perfect quote. 6. Transcribe as soon as possible when interview is fresh in your mind. 7. FACT CHECK! FACT CHECK! FACT CHECK! 7

DURING ALL INTERVIEWS:  Confirm that your sources understand what “on the record” and “off the record” mean. Make sure they understand that they are talking with you on the record. If they have explicit concerns about speaking on the record, address those concerns up front so you are cleared to use all the information they provide  Be flexible.  Put people at ease. Relaxed people make better interviewees.  Be on time!  Don’t let a set list of questions deter you for going on side-tracks – sometimes those side-tracks give you the best quotes / context. As Deborah Blum says, “some of the best interview moments are completely spontaneous. So I’ll do research and I’ll write down questions, but I also think a good interview is akin to good conversation and if you're too rigid in your prep work, too obsessive about your written questions, you lose those moments where the story may open up into something more.” MORE TIPS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzUVqvTqSw0 8

Techniques for after the interview is done What happens when the broadcast interview is done? For broadcast journalist, especially those on live broadcasts, most of the work is done during the preparatory phase and the interview itself. At the end of the interview, be sure to extend thank you to the interviewee for their time. What happens when the interview for print is done? YOU HAVE TO EDIT YOUR INTERVIEW! 1. You will have much more material than you can publish. To edit your interview, listen to the recording and/or read back through your notes to identify quotes that stand out. 2. Assemble an interview excerpt to share! Be sure to include the following elements:  A 3-5 sentence introduction that explains the issue you chose to explore, and why it is important to hear from the person you interviewed on this issue.  3-5 strong quotes from the interview that illustrate the issue you explored with your subject, as well as the personality and feelings that shone through during your conversation.  A photo of your interview subject. 9

Don't rehearse or go through the questions and answers in advance. Although you may like to know how they are going to answer questions, if a person has just answered your question (off air), it is human nature not to repeat themselves to your face again (on air). The best and most spontaneous answers are generally the first answers. Don’t let interviewee see themselves in a monitor if the interview is being done \"live\" in the studio. For non-professionals this can be a major distraction. And wherever the interview is being done, try to get the person's mind off of the people and equipment being used in the production process. Don’t show your agreement or disagreement with the source. If you don't you may skew the answers you are getting. Simply look intensely interested in what the person has to say (without nodding or frowning). Avoid two-part, or double-barreled questions. Not only is it hard to remember both questions, but they may just answer the question they are most comfortable with. Do not let your interviewee go until you are completely satisfied you have something recorded that you can use on air. Don’t let the interviewee leave without collecting their contact details for future reference. Don’t think too hard. A successful interview – from the journalist’s point of view – is one where you maintain control and flow. That means asking the right questions. Don’t read your questions. Make a list of questions before an interview, if you must, but don’t feel you have to stick to it. Before a longer interview, it may help you order your thoughts. That may be important if your editor has asked you to cover a series of points. However, if you do have to refer to what you have written don’t read what is written verbatim to avoid making the interview sound natural. Don’t talk over your interviewee. Know when to shut up. 10

According to Hudson and Rowlands (2007) the interview is the most important news- gathering weapon in the broadcast journalist’s armoury. It is also a way of challenging opinions and orthodoxies, at its purest can become an entertaining or informative programme in its own right. Living in a pandemic, people around the world are becoming increasingly more health conscious and interested in news of clinical research that will help inform their health choices and improve their lives. As these become the needs of the public, the onus is on journalist to fil the gaps between what is needed and what the experts have to say on those issues in a way that can be understood. In doing so, it is important to embrace those techniques that makes the journalist reporting on these issues clear and relevant. 11

Bibliography 5 Simple Journalist Techniques for Effective Interviews. (2019, February 14). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWDL_UYMc7Q Chapman, J., & Kinsey, M. (2007). Broadcast Journalism: A Critical Introduction (1st ed.). Routledge. Guillemard, M. (2019, July 9). Interviewing medical specialists - 10 tips for great responses. Health Writer Hub. https://www.healthwriterhub.com/interviewing-medical-specialists/ How to Conduct a Journalistic Interview | Scholastic. (n.d.). Www.Scholastic.Com. Retrieved December 4, 2020, from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/how- conduct-journalistic-interview/ Hudson, G., & Rowlands, S. (2018). The Broadcast Journalism Handbook (2nd ed.). Routledge. Interviewing scientists. (2019). Science in the Newsroom. https://scienceinthenewsroom.org/resources/interviewing-scientists/ Jarreau, P. (2015, September 12). Help! I’m interviewing a scientist, what do I ask? FromTheLabBench. http://www.fromthelabbench.com/from-the-lab-bench-science- blog/2015/9/11/help-im-interviewing-a-scientist-what-do-i-ask Journalism - How to do a Great Interview - The Home Professor. (2017, December 29). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzUVqvTqSw0 Ladd, L. (2018, July 30). Interviewing doctors: How to get a great healthcare story. Coffey Communications. https://www.coffeycomm.com/resources/posts/interviewing-doctors-how- to-get-a-great-healthcare-story/ 12

Reporter, G. S. (2017, February 22). Talk to me! Top tips for conducting interviews with scientists. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/03/top-tips-conducting- interviews-scientists-science-writing-prize The before, during and after of a media interview. (2016, January 14). Public Relations Sydney. https://publicrelationssydney.com.au/the-before-during-and-after-of-a-media-interview/ 13