How to understand your interviewee and why they may be willing to talk to you. Written for journalism students preparing for a career in broadcasting or publishing.

1. Image courtesy of Internews via Flickr
released under Creative Commons
THE INTERVIEWEE
Why would someone talk to a reporter?

2. The Interviewee
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3. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Ego, guilt, delusion
 His ego is so big he can’t
resist the exposure
 She feels guilty and wants to
confess
 He wants to defend himself
against what others are
saying or doing
 She wants to give the
impression she’s not guilty Image courtesy of Internews via Flickr released
under Creative Commons
 He’s deluded—doesn’t have
a clue how foolish he’ll look
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4. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Job, cause, record, outrage
 She doesn’t really want to,
but it’s her job—she has to
 He believes strongly in his
cause
 She wants to get the facts
right—to set the record
straight
 He’s outraged at
something or someone
 She wants to defend
someone else Image courtesy of Internews Network via Flickr
released under Creative Commons
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5. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Agenda, obedience, payment
 She’s a sociopath and
thinks she can con the
journalist
 He has a hidden agenda
 She’s obedient and
believes journalists have
some kind of authority
 He thinks it’s just the right
thing to do
 She’s getting paid by Image courtesy of Harshad Sharma via Flickr
released under Creative Commons
someone to talk
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6. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Diversion, career, agreement
 He’s trying to divert the
journalist’s attention
 She’s punishing another
journalist or news outlet
 He hopes the exposure will
further his career or help his
reputation
 She believes the journalist
really understands the story
 He believes the journalist is
likely to agree with his point Image courtesy of Nasim Fekrat via Flickr released
under Creative Commons
of view
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7. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Payment, reward, affinity
 She believes the journalist
will somehow pay her
 He’s rewarding the journalist
who is more persistent
 She’s rewarding the journalist
who hasn’t pestered her
 He wants to talk to a
journalist of a particular race,
sex, religion, alma mater, etc
 She cooperates with a
journalist who isn’t of a Image courtesy of thivierr via Flickr released under
particular race, religion, etc Creative Commons
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8. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Impressed by journalist
 He is impressed with the
journalist’s patience
 She believes the journalists will
be more accurate than the others
 He believes the journalist is
somehow more sympathetic or
empathic
 She supports the perceived
editorial position of the
publication/station/network
 He believes the journalist really Image courtesy of Steve Rhodes via Flickr released
cares under Creative Commons
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9. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Trust, experience, reputation
 She believes the journalist
is trustworthy
 He believes the journalist
is more experienced
 She believes the journalist
is more trustworthy
 The journalist came highly
recommended
 She’s read/seen/heard the
journalist’s work and likes Image courtesy of Internews Network via Flickr
his/her work released under Creative Commons
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10. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Naive, nice, likes
 He believes the journalist
is naïve and can somehow
be hoodwinked
 She believes the
journalist’s
publication/program will
reach more people
 He believes the journalist
is just plain nice
Image courtesy of Shykh Seraj via Flickr released
 She likes the anchors on under Creative Commons
the journalist’s newscast
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11. The Interviewee
Why would they talk to you? Emotion, job, information
 He believes he might be able
to have a relationship with the
journalist
 She believes the journalists
might help her get a job as a
reporter
 He believes the reporter
might have information that
could be helpful
 She supports the perceived Image courtesy of Esthr via Flickr
released under Creative Commons
editorial position of the
publication/station/network
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12. The on-camera interview
Acknowledgement Don Ray
 Using material from a
training module by
Don Ray on Media
Helping Media
 Don can be contacted
for training work at
donray@donray.com
http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/
Image courtesy of Don Ray
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