IT Education Tips

Your Plan of Campaign.

Yes, you will need a plan, a simple list that you can follow to make sure you’ve covered everything. Write these points up into a checklist on Word, print it and tick each item off as you complete it.

1. Choose your subject.

How do you go about finding a suitable subject who has an interesting life, or something interesting to talk about? Perhaps you have a friend, an acquaintance or an old school friend who would be ideal. You may have read a local news item about a celebrity or personality that strikes a chord and think an article on the person involved would be popular.

2. Choose your publication.

Before you interview anyone it’s sensible to decide which magazine or newspaper you are thinking of sending it to. This will help you work out what questions to ask to please the readership of the particular publication.

3. Contact Interviewee.

Contact your prospective interviewee by letter rather than phone. On the ‘phone their reaction may be an immediate ‘No’, but a letter lets you explain your request, and will give your prospect the chance to mull it over before deciding, hopefully, that they want to go ahead. Your letter should be polite and cover how long you expect the interview to take (one hour is good), which publication you intend sending it too, and an assurance that they may read the article before you send it off.

4. Follow up.

If you have heard nothing after a few days, that’s the time to pick up the phone. Ask if they’ve had chance to consider your request and if they have any questions or concerns. This is your opportunity to allay any fears they may have.

5. Arrange a meet.

It’s generally best to do the interview in the subjects own home. They will be more comfortable in familiar surroundings. Arrange a time and date and, if you plan to take a recorder with you, ask if they mind being recorded.

6. Prepare Questions.

Take time to think up some thoughtful questions based on the readership of your targeted publication. Write these down in your notebook rather than trusting your memory.

7. Your Interview Kit.

Take with you a notebook or legal pad, sharpened pencils with integral rubbers (not biros – they run out), a tape recorder, if you have one, plus spare batteries (important), and your list of prepared questions.

The Interview.

Break the ice and lead into your first question obliquely if you can. You will find that one question will often spark others, but don’t stray too far from what you have prepared.

Make brief notes using only a phrase as a mental marker for later. Interviewees can be unnerved if you are frantically writing down every word. You need to give them your full attention as much as possible.

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