Video tutorial: The interview — journalists' timeless tool

by Steve Earley

One thing Web 2.0 hasn't changed, and Web 3.0, 4.0 and so on won't change is the importance of interviewing. No matter how a story is packaged, it's not going to be all it could be without strong interviews.

For this week's News rEvolution video tutorial, six experienced interviewers from Elon University's Interactive Media graduate program shared some of their favorite tips for mastering this timeless art.

• Shelley Russell, the former special projects editor for Elon's student newspaper, talks about the importance of background research.
  


• Documentary filmmaker Conor Britain explains why e-mail interviews should be avoided.
  


• Former newspaper journalist David Kennedy stresses interviewing sources at their home base, be it their house, their office or where news is happening.
  


• Kevin Burrows, a former trade magazine writer and editor, encourages interviewers to break the ice by chatting about a shared interest or experience.
  


• Alisa Petitt, who has worked on both sides of the camera covering sports, says it's essential to have a game plan going into an interview.
  


• Print journalism veteran Brook Corwin advises leaving the toughest questions for the end of the interview.