How to interview someone for an article, podcast, or video

Being able to tell someone’s story in an authentic and empathetic way is a strong skill that great journalists master. Nowadays though, more content creators are using journalistic techniques in order to film Youtube videos, record a podcast, or write an article. Before you dive into interviewing and reporting on someone, here are some tips on how to be a great interviewer so that you can tell the best story possible. 

1. Before your interview, do your research

I have managed journalists for years, and one pattern I have noticed for newer or undisciplined journalists has been that they rarely prepare for their interviews. Whether you’re interviewing a famous TikTok star or a politician, ahead of an interview, you should spend time learning about that person’s background. Understanding where your interviewee went to school, what their childhood was like, or any other information you can find that’s publicly available can help you better connect with your interview guest later on. In addition, it’s important to research the topic you’re interviewing for because chances are that unless you are writing a biography, you should have a thesis, topic, or angle you’re trying to tell through your interview. 

2. Have a thesis

Just like when you used to write essays for schools, interviews and articles always have an overarching thesis, main point, or topic. Having an overarching thesis to guide your interview is important because it will keep you on track, it will make the interview more organized, and it will lead to a better story that’s easy for readers to understand. For example, if you want to interview a famous TikTok star, you should have an angle other than the fact that the TikTok star is famous – everyone already knows that. Your angle could be something like: Learn how this TikTok star built her brand by telling personal stories. Or another angle: This TikTok star has cultivated millions of followers, but now she wants to leave the platform. Those are two very different angles, but they are interesting and can be informative for readers. When you reach out to the person you plan to interview, they will likely want to know what the topic of your article, video, or podcast is about, therefore, it’s important to have your thesis ready to share.

Sometimes, your thesis may change as you conduct your interview and learn more from the interviewee. So you should also try to be adaptable. 

3. Write questions down beforehand

It’s always best to have an authentic conversation, but it’s also important to be prepared for your interview. Generally, people are nervous when they start an interview. We’re naturally guarded when we aren’t sure where a conversation is going, so start slow. Ask comfortable questions, such as asking them to share a bit about their background. People love sharing stories and information about themselves. In addition, get the clinical stuff out of the way by asking the 5 W’s: Who, what, when, where, and why. 

Let’s take the example of our TikTok star, we’ll call her Ray. 

• Who is Ray the TikTok star?

• What is Ray doing now to grow her brand?

• When did Ray get started on TikTok?

• Where did Ray get started on TikTok, and where is she going?

• Why did Ray decide to build her brand on TikTok? 

These are pretty basic questions that will help warm the interviewee up for more detailed questions throughout the interview process. 

4. Record your interview, but have a natural conversation

People tend to tense up when you tell them you are going to record an interview, but generally, I advise recording because it helps you keep a record of the conversation so that you don’t misinterpret anything later on when you are transcribing and writing your article. If you notice your guest is nervous or tense about the recording, reassure them that you are recording the conversation so that you can actively listen to what they are saying and not focus on note-taking. 

And as you do your interview, keep it natural and professional. Scripted conversations aren’t engaging, and can lead to a very structured and unnatural experience. Speak to this person as you would a friend. Engage in what they are saying, ask follow-up questions, react appropriately, and show empathy. 

For example, say in our fictional interview with Ray the TikTok star that she shares that she started posting on TikTok after her grandmother died in order to help her through the pain. That’s a very vulnerable moment that Ray is sharing with you. This is a really critical time to demonstrate empathy. You can do this by expressing your condolences when there’s a natural pause in the conversation. And by asking follow-up questions like: “Were you close to your grandmother? Can you tell me more about her? Has your relationship with her inspired your work? If so, how?”

5. Listen actively

This is the hardest skill that most people fail to master. We’ve been trained through social media and our modern digital culture to react first and often. But the best stories happen through listening. Here are some tips I try to use when I’m listening actively:

Look at the speaker: Face the speaker and maintain a natural amount of eye contact. It’s distracting to see someone staring into the distance or looking at their phone when you are talking to them.

Watch for non-verbal cues: Facial expressions, posture, tone, those are all subtle signs that mean something. If someone says they are happy but they are not smiling, chances are they probably aren’t truly happy. 

Don't interrupt: It’s natural when you get excited or you have a thought that you want to immediately jump into a conversation and share your thoughts. But that can be a disruptive experience. If you have that urge, write your question down and wait for a natural pause. I struggle with this one a lot because as an East Coaster, I feel like I need to show my enthusiasm and agreement with someone by verbalizing it or adding to their story or point. Sometimes people enjoy it, but oftentimes, I’m interrupting them and that robs us of the experience of fully listening to their point or message. 

Avoid forming an immediate judgment: During an interview, someone might reveal surprising news. It’s important to react naturally and calmly so that the guest feels safe and understood. If Ray the TikTok star reveals she’s leaving the platform, you don’t want to react by saying, “No!” That will likely make her become guarded, cautious, or wary of going deeper into the conversation. Instead, you can say, “Tell me more about that.” Usually, people will want to continue explaining why they’ve reached a decision or point. 

Subtly show you’re listening with nonverbal cues: Nodding, making eye contact, tilting your head slightly to show affirmation or listening can help your guest understand and see that you are actively listening to them.

Don't impose your opinions: This is a common mistake I see with some journalists. They may hear something they don’t personally agree with and they will interrupt the interviewee. Sometimes, it’s appropriate, especially when someone says things that are fundamentally wrong or inaccurate, but if it’s an opinion that you don’t agree with and it isn’t factual wrong, try to avoid pushing your feelings and judgments onto your guest.

Stay focused: If you find yourself drifting in the conversation, try writing down bullet points as you listen. I used to be a science reporter, and sometimes, my guests would go on long explanations about their research and use language I didn’t understand, so I would lose focus. A way to combat that is by taking notes and asking for clarification or asking them to restate the sentence in a way that you can better understand. 

6. Ask clarifying questions and more details

This is the biggest problem I see with unseasoned or untrained journalists or interviewers. When someone says a statement that seems vague, don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions or get clarifying information. If Ray the TikTok star says she is leaving TikTok because it’s a bad platform, you should ask: “Tell me why you think it’s a bad platform?” And “Can you tell me specifically what happened to you on TikTok that makes you feel like it’s not a good platform for you to use?” Those questions can push your interviewee to reflect and give you better responses. Sometimes the best answers come from the follow-up questions. 

7. Try to stay on topic 

A good conversation can flow like water, it has its own rhythm and motion. Sometimes it is smooth or it can be choppy, but it’s always going in a specific direction. As you conduct your interview, try to keep it focused on the topic, thesis, or main point that you are discussing. For example, if the main point of your interview with Ray the TikTok star is about how she built her TikTok career, chances are you may not want to be focusing too long on her grandmother during the interview. However, sometimes an interview can take down an unexpected path. For example, what if Ray reveals that the reason she is leaving TikTok is that she needs to focus on earning more income because she’s struggling to pay off $250,000 in student loans? That information could reframe your interview and story. Instead of your story focusing on Ray building her TikTok brand, it may become a story about how a famous TikToker is leaving the platform because she feels like her videos are not being fairly compensated by the platform. 

8. Tell your interviewee when the interview is over and when they can expect the story 

After you conclude your interview, tell your guest what to expect next. Chances are they will want to know when the story is coming out so that they can read, listen, or watch the interview. Typically, professional journalists don’t share an article or story for approval ahead of publication with the interviewee. However, in content marketing, it is common for some companies to get the interviewee’s approval before publishing. Personally, if I’m doing an interview outside of my professional job, I still operate with journalistic integrity. I tell the truth, I stay objective, and I let the interviewee’s words speak for themselves.

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