JOUR2264 · University and Capstone

Interviewing Best Practices

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Note to Journalism minors: this course satisfies the requirement for an elective with a craft" orientation. It will allow future journalists a unique opportunity to learn best interviewing techniques from industry experts and veteran interviewers, as well as direct practice in conducting interviews. The journalist is offered a privileged opportunity to question and seek answers from a variety of people throughout their careers, from citizens going through everyday experiences to catastrophic events, as well as celebrities, politicians, economists, law enforcement, health professionals, scholars and more. Learning responsible interviewing techniques, methods of query, interpersonal communication skills and ethical conduct are all part of becoming a trusted interviewer. The trusted journalist who listens, is firm but fair in their questioning, and remains impartial is the one who gets the interview over competitors that are more haphazard and less considered in their style. Preparation prior to the interview is a key component along with many other best practices which will be discussed. Students will conduct a number of interviews in this course.