How to Be a Roving Reporter

Roving reporters often use video equipment to record interviews.

A roving reporter conducts random interviews seeking short comments on a topical social question. Reporters may ask nearly any question on a current issue, serious or flippant. The typical person interviewed by a roving reporter is someone walking on a street, lounging in a park or exiting a large building. The "roving" nature of the job requires the reporter to go where ever he or she can find a motley crew that best represents the "person-on-the-street" view of a topic. Their perspective usually offers a contrast to professional analysts. The level of challenge involved in the job depends on the willingness of participants.

Things You'll Need

• Hand-held audio and/or video recorder
• Microphone

Instructions

1. Confer with your editor to determine acceptable questions or whether all questions should be related to current events. Pick one topical question and pose it each person being interviewed for the article or video piece. There is a wide range of topics that a roving reporter can cover. Ask open-ended questions to encourage a colorful range of opinions. An Example of an open-ended question is: "How well do you think the president is handling his job?" Make certain you have the correct spelling of the person's full name. Some organizations may also require additional information including the person's age, address and occupation.

2. Bring an audio or video recorder to a location where a variety of people congregate such as a park or street where there is usually heavy foot-traffic. The downtown area of most cities at lunch time is usually a good places to conduct interviews and find a variety of opinions on a topic.

3. Approach people who catch your interest. In a polite and friendly manner introduce yourself and identify the organization you represent. Then tell them you are a roving reporter and would like to ask them a question. Alternatively, simply ask the intended question directly. If a person declines to answer, thank them and ask someone else. Continue approaching people until you collect a substantial number of interviews. The actual number will vary depending on the length and variety of the comments. It can take up to 30 interviews to collect a large swath of responses.

4. Review the entire collection of interviews with your editor and select an array of comments that reflect a broad spectrum of views. Make an effort to avoid redundant comments. This will help maintain your reader's or viewer's interest.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid conducting interviews in locations likely to attract only a single demographic of age, race, sex or income level.

• Negative responses can include silence, grumbling or even hostility. Do not be offended. If someone doesn't want to be interviewed, quickly move on.

References

• The Harvard Crimson: Roving Reporter
• Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism: Newsperson/Roving Reporter