Not everyone gives a good interview. You, as the interviewer, must guide the person you are talking to. Don Ray, Author of “No Questions Asked”, has come up with a great formula for extracting meaningful quotes from your interviews. Check this out:

The Don Ray Formula to Getting Great Quotations

Investigative journalist Don Ray, who spoke at the 2004 Bakersfield College J-Day, has worked in television where he needed complete “sound bites,” not just a portion of a quote that required added words from the journalist to make sense. He says his method will also help print journalists get better quotes:

  1. Don’t ask questions. Instead, give gentle commands.
  • Tell me about…
  • I’m curious about…
  • Describe your reaction to…
  • I’ve always wondered about …
  • Talk to me about…
  • I can’t imagine how that made you feel. (then pause a long time)
  • Take me back to five minutes before it happened and walk me through it.
  1. Avoid saying the words who, what, when, where, why, or how. They often result in answers that are not complete sentences or are too narrow in scope.

Question: Why did you do it? “Because I was angry.”

Better: “Talk to me about your reasons. “I woke up one morning so angry at the world that I couldn’t help myself.”

Question: Who taught you how to do that? “My dad.”

Better: Tell me about the way you learned that (not how). “My father was the best bronco buster south of the Snake River. He was determined I’d follow in his footsteps.”

  1. Don’t ask yes/no questions or multiple choice questions. These are like quiz questions when what you really need are essay answers.
  1. When the source is done talking, remain completely silent for at least 30 seconds. In that pregnant pause, let him/her feel the need to fill the silence. Your best, most thought out quotes will come from inside your interviewee–not from your questions. Remember the all-important *STHU
  1. Listen to every word she/he’s saying. Don’t worry about framing your next question. If you’re listening, it will come to you.
  1. If you can’t think of the next question, simply say, “Hmm. Interesting. Tell me more.”
  1. After a little practice at this “no questions” technique, consider NOT writing out questions in advance. Instead, write key words about the subjects you want your source to talk with you about.
  1. Don’t interrupt your source. *Shut the Heck Up!

Download the Don Ray Formula Hand Out

 

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Student Journalism