Independent Interview Assignment
Your Task: Create a 1 minute audio interview in the style of This American Life. Be sure to include an introduction stating who you are as the interviewer and who you are interviewing. Also be sure to end the interview with a statement about what the audience has learned by listening to the interview (anecdote, then reflection). You can use your Chromebook to record the audio. Try an extension such as "Mic Note", found in the Chrome Web Store for download. Then edit your file in Audacity. Background music can be found at Incompetech.
Pre/Post Interview Form
Pre/Post Interview Form
Audio Interviewing Tips
80% of Video is “Radio with Pictures”.
1. AudioCapturing
a. Types of microphones
i. Omni-directional
ii. Uni-directional
b. Improving audio
i. Blend audio. Seamless editing is key. There should be no dead breaks in your audio track. If your audio on channel one is fading down, bbbrrriiinnnggg up
your audio on channel two while you still can hear channel one.
ii. Minimize background noise. Try to conduct your interview in as quiet a place as possible. You can add appropriate background noise (music or
environmental noise) later.
2. Interviewing
a. Act interested and enthusiastic.
b. People freak out when you mention the word “interview”. They think about being on TV, and eventually will lose their spontaneity. Keep people in the
comfort zone. Talk to people in normal conversation like you would talk to a friend. Be kind. Warm eye contact opens people up.
c. Introduce yourself. Explain what you are doing and why you would like their help. Reassure them that you will only use the parts where they
are most articulate, that you will edit out any slip-ups, ums, likes, etc. Make an appointment and show up.
d. Prepare what you will ask. Think about your audience and what they may want to know.
e. Add fluff (warm-up) questions to relax your interviewee. Get them to say their name, spell it, and give their position.
f. You may need to ask questions even if you know the answer as you’ll want to get the interviewee to be the one doing the explaining.
g. Avoid questions that can simply be answered “yes” or “no.” Remember to ask a lot of“why” and “how” questions.
h. Follow your basic questions with “so what” questions. Ask the significance.
i. You may even want to use the silent treatment (use sparingly though). Pause for a few seconds between questions to let the source elaborate. If the pause
seems uncomfortable, the interviewee may break the silence first. Sometimes, the best follow-up question is no question.
j. Ask questions that get them talking in complete sentences: “Please tell me what’s going on here.” “Tell me about the science lab and what the students
are supposed to do.” “Tell me how you got interested in learning sign language.”, etc. Listen and be responsive to the interviewee. Ask follow-up questions for
clarification even if it was not in your original plan.
k. Ask for summary statements about what has been said.
l. Ask the source if there is anything else he/she would like to add.
m. Record enough to give you lots of choice when editing.
n. Remember to hit “record”.
o. Always thank your interviewee before and after the interview.
80% of Video is “Radio with Pictures”.
1. AudioCapturing
a. Types of microphones
i. Omni-directional
ii. Uni-directional
b. Improving audio
i. Blend audio. Seamless editing is key. There should be no dead breaks in your audio track. If your audio on channel one is fading down, bbbrrriiinnnggg up
your audio on channel two while you still can hear channel one.
ii. Minimize background noise. Try to conduct your interview in as quiet a place as possible. You can add appropriate background noise (music or
environmental noise) later.
2. Interviewing
a. Act interested and enthusiastic.
b. People freak out when you mention the word “interview”. They think about being on TV, and eventually will lose their spontaneity. Keep people in the
comfort zone. Talk to people in normal conversation like you would talk to a friend. Be kind. Warm eye contact opens people up.
c. Introduce yourself. Explain what you are doing and why you would like their help. Reassure them that you will only use the parts where they
are most articulate, that you will edit out any slip-ups, ums, likes, etc. Make an appointment and show up.
d. Prepare what you will ask. Think about your audience and what they may want to know.
e. Add fluff (warm-up) questions to relax your interviewee. Get them to say their name, spell it, and give their position.
f. You may need to ask questions even if you know the answer as you’ll want to get the interviewee to be the one doing the explaining.
g. Avoid questions that can simply be answered “yes” or “no.” Remember to ask a lot of“why” and “how” questions.
h. Follow your basic questions with “so what” questions. Ask the significance.
i. You may even want to use the silent treatment (use sparingly though). Pause for a few seconds between questions to let the source elaborate. If the pause
seems uncomfortable, the interviewee may break the silence first. Sometimes, the best follow-up question is no question.
j. Ask questions that get them talking in complete sentences: “Please tell me what’s going on here.” “Tell me about the science lab and what the students
are supposed to do.” “Tell me how you got interested in learning sign language.”, etc. Listen and be responsive to the interviewee. Ask follow-up questions for
clarification even if it was not in your original plan.
k. Ask for summary statements about what has been said.
l. Ask the source if there is anything else he/she would like to add.
m. Record enough to give you lots of choice when editing.
n. Remember to hit “record”.
o. Always thank your interviewee before and after the interview.