REPORTING AND INTERVIEWING
Interviewing
- It is asking questions and finding out answers.
Type Of Stories
1. INVESTIGATIONS
- May expose corruption or wasteful spending.
- Confrontational interviews.
- Hold the power accountable
2. HUMAN-INTEREST FEATURE STORIES
- highlight emotional or personal experiences.
- someone who is or is doing something interesting.
- generally, more positive or feel-good
- why does your audience care?
3. NEWS STORIES
- focus on timely events or updates.
- e.g. interviewing a witness after a fire.
4. FEATURE STORIES
- provide a deeper look at a topic or person
- e.g. a profile of a local artist.
Who Should You Interview?
EYEWITNESS - firsthand accounts. (e.g. someone who saw an accident)
EXPERTS - for insights (e.g. someone who is professional/s)
PEOPLE DIRECTLY INVOLVED
Types Of Questions
CLOSE-ENDED
require specific answers
OPEN-ENDED
encourages detailed answer
QUESTION FOR INFORMATION
seek factual answers or details. (e.g. what time did the accident happen?)
QUESTIONS FOR EMOTION
aim to understand feelings or reactions. (e.g. how did you feel about the outcome of the
meeting?)
BEYOND 5W’s
HOW MUCH? – This asks for quantifiable details or measurements. It seeks data or numbers. E.g.
“how much time did the project take to complete?”
HOW OFTEN? – this explores the frequency of actions of events. It focuses on consistency or
regularity. E,g. “how often do you meet with your team?”
WHY NOW? – this investigates the timing or urgency of a situation. It aims to understand the
reasons behind current timing or decisions. E,g. “ why is this report being released now?”
WHO SAYS? – this questions the source or authority behind a statement or claim. It checks
credibility or the origin of the information. E.g. “who says this method is the best?”
HOW SO? – this asks for an explanation or reasoning behind something. It clarifies how something
happened or was achieved. E.g. “can you explain how this approach worked better?”
WHAT NOW? – this focuses on future steps or plans. It seeks information on what will allow or
happen next. E.g. “what now? What’s the next step after this report?”
What makes an Interview great?
Great listener
Summarize and repeat if something is confusing to you
Prepare and research ahead of time
Clear
Empathetic
Reporting
- is finding information and getting that information out to the public.
- the process of gathering, investigating, and presenting news and information to the public.
- It is a fundamental aspect of journalism, crucial for informing citizens, holding power to account,
and fostering public discourse.
Reporting is all about:
Gathering information- reporters collect facts from various sources, including interviews, official
documents, eyewitness accounts, and field observations.
Investigating- This involves probing deeper into issues, verifying facts, and uncovering details that
may not be immediately apparent.
Writing and presentation- Reporters then write news stories, often following specific formats and
styles. This includes organizing information clearly and engagingly, and sometimes incorporating
multimedia elements.
Ethics and accuracy- reporters must adhere to ethical standards, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and
balance in their reporting. They need to avoid bias and verify the information before publishing.
Roles of reporting in Journalism:
News coverage- reporting is the backbone of the news coverage, providing timely and accurate
updates on events and issues.
Storytelling- it helps in crafting compelling narratives that capture the audience’s attention and
convey the significance of events.
Shaping public opinion- through the way news is reported, journalism can influence public opinion
and awareness on various issues.
Advocacy and change- investigative journalism often leads to social change by highlighting
important issues and prompting issues from policymakers or the public.
Importance of Reporting
Informed public- public reporting provides the public with essential information about current
events, issues, and developments. This helps people make informed decisions about their lives and
communities.
Accountability- journalism plays a critical role holding individuals, organizations, and governments
accountable for their actions. Investigative reporting can expose corruption, misconduct, and abuse
of power.
Public discourse- reporting fosters public discussion and debate by presenting diverse perspectives
and contributing to the democratic process.
Educational role- it educates the public on complex issues, such as science, health, and politics,
making information accessible and understandable.
