What goes into a good journalistic interview? Part of it has to do with planning. Good listening and asking the right questions are important, too. It also helps to be in the moment.
Get advice on how to conduct an interview from NBC News, MSNBC and NBCU Local anchors and reporters in our “Level Up” video above and read their comments below.
What’s your top tip for interviewers?
José Díaz-Balart, MSNBC, “NBC Nightly News” and Telemundo anchor: Keep your questions very short. Focus like a laser on the reality of the people you’re interviewing.
Craig Melvin, “TODAY” news anchor and 3rd-hour co-host: I think really good interviews elicit some sort of emotion. You’re watching the interview and you feel something when that person is talking. I want the audience to learn something new about the subject, about the person, about the event that they did not know before the interview starts.
Brian Cheung, NBC News business and data correspondent: I’m talking to a human being. I’m not talking to a camera. I think that’s a very important part of making people relaxed. “Hey, we’re just having a conversation.”
Laura Jarrett, NBC News’ senior legal correspondent: Always know your audience and know the person you’re interviewing. You want to be able to help your viewer along and the person that you’re interviewing should help tell that part of the story.
Savannah Guthrie, “TODAY” co-host: Really think about, for each of your questions, not just what you’re asking, but what you think the answer will be. Then you can also anticipate the follow-ups. I think follow-ups are the key to any good interview.
Why is listening important when you conduct an interview?
Sheinelle Jones, 3rd hour of “TODAY” co-anchor: You can go into an interview, and you could have your list of questions. But I think you also need the mindset of not knowing where it’s going to go.
Al Roker, “TODAY” weather and feature anchor and 3rd-hour co-host: My insider secret when I conduct an interview is just to listen.
Hoda Kotb, “TODAY” and “TODAY with Hoda and Jenna” co-host: I’ve done many interviews where I’ve been thinking about, “What’s my next question?” And you miss the very thing that they said that’s right in front of you. So if you are a good listener, you will be a good interviewer.
Guthrie: You should have a plan when you go into an interview. But usually that plan goes right out the window the minute that subject opens his or her mouth. You got to be ready for that.
Maya Eaglin, NBC News Digital reporter: You can take the interview wherever you want it to go. There can be some natural follow-ups. Having an outline beforehand helps, and memorizing where it’s going to go will help you with storytelling.
What advice do you have for approaching interview subjects?
Morgan Radford, “NBC News Daily” co-anchor and NBC News correspondent: These are just your neighbors, friends, family and people in your own community. Make sure you’re addressing questions from a stance of humanity. That always gets the best answer.
Richard Engel, NBC News chief foreign correspondent: You talk to people who were directly involved, whether they’re soldiers or witnesses or victims of a war crime. You hear their stories in the place where the incidents took place. It’s the oldest, and I would say still the most pure, form of journalism you can find.
Miguel Martinez-Valle, NBC10 and Telemundo 62 reporter: If I’m doing a story, and it’s in a primarily Spanish-speaking area, and I think that there is an interview that really captures the story, I’ll translate it on the English side.
Emilie Ikeda, NBC News correspondent: At the end of the interview, I will ask, “Is there anything that you want to add?” It can bring out some of the most interesting nuggets, something that I didn’t even think to ask them.
Marquise Francis, NBC News “Stay Tuned” Correspondent: If I’m talking to someone, and they all of a sudden get emotional, give it a beat. Let them take a moment to gather themselves. Maybe even lean in, [say,] “I’m here with you. I understand this is a difficult topic to talk about. But I think this is something people really are going to be interested to learn about.”
Melvin: I think in any good interview — there are exceptions to the rule — there should be a smile at some point, maybe even a chuckle or laughter. The times in which we live are so heavy. There should be a moment in every interview where you can smile. You can just be normal.
