How to Interview Sources for a Magazine Article
If you’re writing an article for a major magazine, your editor will probably ask you to provide quotes to sustain the information included in the piece. If you’re just beginning your writing career, the idea of approaching strangers for an interview may seem intimidating, but the truth is that most people are happy to be interviewed and to be mentioned in a magazine article.
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Instructions
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Don’t assume that face-to-face interviews are best. Some experts have very busy lives, and if they grant you a “live” interview, you may be limited to only 30 to 60 minutes. The same is true of phone interviews, although they allow you to interview people who are not in the same city or state. Email interviews, on the other hand, have become very common, and are a great option for busy people who would rather answer questions at their own pace.
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Look for experts in on online databases such as Profnet or Experts.com. Both places are directly geared to writers and journalists in need of sources, so the experts there are always willing to answer questions. You will need to create a free account in order to reach the experts, and then submit a query so they can get in touch with you directly. (You can specify phone or email.)
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Contact the experts you like and set up an interview time or ask if they would be willing to answer questions via email. Do this as early as possible, as it usually takes time to organize everything, and the last thing you want is to be caught short.
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Prepare your questions in advance. Whatever method you are using for the actual interview, write down more questions that you think you will need to ask. This is especially important in case you’re dealing with somebody who gives short answers. Make sure you research the person and the topic in advance so you can ask educated, specific questions rather than general ones.
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Make sure you get bio information for everybody you interview. When quoting someone in an article, you are usually expected to offer a quick description of his expertise and abilities so readers can understand why this is the right person to offer an opinion.
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If you are conducting an interview personally or over the phone, make sure you record it. Let the other person know you plan on doing that and then make sure you save everything for your records. If the source asks for something to be kept "off the record," honor that.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid questions that can be answered with yes or no. If you’re looking for quotes for an article, this won’t give you the needed material.
Resources
- Photo Credit Faakhir Rizvi
