20 Interviewing tips

For details, see Tim Harrower's Inside Reporting, page 79

Harrower provides a few paragraphs on what to do before (Prepare, organize, prioritize...) and after (say thank you, make follow-up arrangements, etc.), but the meat of the page is a bulleted list of things to do during an interview. 

In the book, most of these headings are followed by details and explanations. As you read them, notice the tension between some of these tips. (For example, "You're in charge," but "Don't interrupt.")

Also notice that some might be difficult in a live or live-on-tape broadcast interview. Have you noticed Charlie Rose or other broadcast interviewers using any of these techniques?  Can you fill in Harrower's details? For example, what are the "three best" follow-up questions he suggests?

• Relax.
• Never forget: You're in charge.
• Start with the basics.
• Budget your time.
• Begin with softball questions.
• Focus your questions.
• Keep it simple.
• Limit questions that can be answered "yes" or "no."
• Make sure every question gets answered.
• Rephrase questions.
• Ask follow-up questions.
• Stay flexible.
• Ask people to slow down.
• Don't worry about asking dumb questions.
• Remember to look around.
• Use reassuring body language.
• Try using silence as a tactic.
• Don't interrupt.
• Don't take sides.
• Save your toughtest question for last.