Equipment list and complete procedures for preparing for and completing tape recorded interviews by telephone for journalistic purposes.
Your equipment list for tape-recorded telephone interviews.
You need a telephone that you can count on, touch-tone in case you need it to get past an automated system to reach your interviewee. You also need a few different sections of RJ11 cable, more commonly known as telephone wire, like you would find between your phone and the wall jack. You need a telephone recording control box such as you would find at a good electronics store. You need a micro or macro (regular) cassette recorder to do the recording and blank cassettes. You need to connect the phone to the control box, which is connected both to the recorder and another piece of phone cord that goes to the wall. You need to set the box to "phone" or to "record". You need to have the tape recorder turned on with the tape already inserted and the recorder set to "pause" before the procedure.
Arranging interviews
You need to make contact with an appropriate subject through their company or organization and set up a time to call them or for them to call you. You need to let them know in advance what the questions will be. You need to ask them at time of interview if it can be taped for transcription purposes. Continue only if you have approval.
The questions
The subject of questions begs the question, when and how do you come up with the questions? You will need to come up with the questions before contacting your subjects. These will be based on what types of answers you really need in order to draw from to write a solid piece on the topic at hand. You will at least want to cover the who, what, when, where, why and how of it. Try to determine who your audience is and what questions they have and might have about this subject. You will then want to ask more and broader questions than your audience has in order to write a knowledgeable piece from a solid foundation. Ask about seven questions with optional, on the spot, follow-up questions for each. Ask a final question as to what else should have been asked and then get the interviewee's answer for that as well. Also ask an optional follow-up to this question. The follow-ups allow for depth as well as for clarification. You can abridge this format to nine questions, nine follow-ups and a final question and follow-up if need be. This would be if you have a higher word count to satisfy or fewer interviewees (the standard is three) to examine. Of course you will have to get the interviewee to agree to the longer session; perhaps their larger part in the article will entice them.
The interview
Remember your subject is doing you a favor as much as you are for them. Allow for intermissions so your subject can have water or take a break or if they have a question about the interview. You would then turn the recorder off and let them know that you are doing so and when you turn it back on as well.
At the beginning, let them know you are starting to record after you have permission to do so. Then, ask them to list their name, title, company and contact information for your reference list.
Begin asking your questions and clarify whenever asked. Try not to interrupt your interviewee's answers but allow your subject to give as full and complete a response as they would like to as time permits. The follow-up questions can be used to steer the subject back on track if they veer off course. This may also give you the opportunity to sneak in additional questions if the subject realizes they erred. You can also use follow-up questions to clarify terminology, which gives the interviewee a chance to show off their expertise as well. The more the interviewee is enjoying the experience the more they will want to stay on the line and talk and answer more questions, which can be ad-libbed on the spot.
Wrapping up
I always like to wrap by reassuring the subject that they did a wonderful job. You should also let them know that you will stay in touch and keep them up to date as to when the piece will be published and how they may acquire a copy or copies. This is something that should make them and everyone else involved in the project very happy. You may want to contact them after they have had a chance to read the piece to get their feedback. Their perspective can be as useful as anyone's in helping to mold your interviewing and question authoring talents for future interviews and articles. All these things help to ensure that you get a good reputation as an exceptional interviewer and journalist.
