As well as preparing well, thinking about what you do before the interview, asking clear open questions and listening carefully we have a few more top tips for you. Here, BBC presenters Paulette Edwards, Qasa Alom, and Victoria Derbyshire share their thoughts on how else to get the most out of your interviewee.
Paulette Edwards (Presenter, BBC Radio Sheffield)
Looking into someone's eyes is always the best thing to do for an interview, just looking at what's going on for them. Which means, I think, that you need to make sure that you've got an idea of what you're going to be talking about without referring to questions on a cue all the time. So the questions that you need are inside you somewhere and then you can engage with that other human being. For me, that's really, really important.
Qasa Alom (Presenter, BBC Asian Network)
I try to build trust with them to start with and that comes from asking them about themselves. A simple question like 'How are you today?' if you're in person with them, looking them in the eye, making them feel like the only person who matters, the only thing in the room that matters.
Victoria Derbyshire (Presenter, BBC News)
Really long questions are a complete bore for the audience because they lose track. It makes it sound like you think it's all about you when it's not. So do keep them pretty concise. It's OK to to include quotes or stats or facts, which might make your question a little bit longer, but not too long because it's boring.
Qasa Alom
You need to be able to give them the space to answer the question. OK, if you're holding someone to account, absolutely hold them to account. But first, let them say what it is that they need to say. And when you've heard enough or when you know they're trying to avoid it, gently bring them back. But the key thing is the interview is about them, not about you.
Paulette Edwards
Ask your question in the way that you would ask your question. Don't try to think of anybody else and how they do it. Try to be yourself. And that would be another tip of mine. Just try to be as much yourself as you possibly can and be compassionate, even if you're holding someone to account, be a human being, be compassionate. And sometimes it means you get a little bit more.
Qasa Alom
Make sure you enjoy it and make sure you remember you're just having a conversation with someone. They are like your friend. So treat them like that, have a chat with them.
Top tips
Take a little time to put your interviewee at ease. Get to know them a little and feel comfortable chatting but try not to talk about the interview subject until you begin.
Let them know why you’re doing the interview and in what context you’ll be using it. Let them know what you hope to achieve. This isn't only good practice, but it can also help the contributor give you the answers you need. While experienced interviewees will need less support and encouragement than first-timers, all our contributors deserve your respect and courtesy.
Relax and don’t overcomplicate it. The hard work's done, now just enjoy the conversation. If you're genuinely interested in what your contributor has to say, everything will fall into place naturally.
Use your own body and gestures to show that you're focused. Nod occasionally. Smile and use other facial expressions. Make sure that your posture is open and interested. Avoid any 'oh yes' or 'oh I see' reassurances that might spoil the recording by talking over them.
Try to keep eye contact throughout the interview. Encourage your interviewee by showing them you're engaged with what they're saying.
If you’re recording something for broadcast, try not to record more than you need. It will all depend on the type of output you're working on, but the more you record, the longer and harder it is to find the best clips.
You might want to get straight to the point with experienced contributors, or 'holding to account' type interviews. In longer form interviews, it may be better to ease the interviewee into more specific questioning further in. If the speaker's nervous, it might be a good idea to warm up to the important stuff by simply asking them to tell you a little bit about themselves. Either way, spend time thinking about your first question as it'll set the tone for the interview as a whole.
If the contributor offers something you don’t understand or uses some technical language or jargon, don’t be afraid to ask them to answer again in a simpler way or with less jargon. If you don’t understand what they're saying, the audience is unlikely to as well.
In some cases, it’s easy to be distracted by different avenues the contributor might take. They may have their own agenda for the interview that is different to yours. Try to stay single-minded about what you need and get back on track if the answers start going in a different direction.
Ask them for their name and, if appropriate, their correct job title. Ask them to spell it for you. This will save you time looking for this information later!
Don’t be afraid to ask for a shorter/simpler version of their answer or ask your main questions again at the end of the interview. These alternative takes might offer more clarity and may save you editing time later.
Ask if there’s anything they want to talk about that you haven’t covered.
A good question to ask might be "What does this mean to you personally?”
Summary
Think about what you want from the interview and the best approach to get it. Ask simple, open questions and listen carefully. Focus on what you came for and follow up on anything that seems interesting and ask the question again if you don’t feel it's been answered properly. Don’t be afraid to ask for a shorter/simpler version of their answer or ask your main questions again at the end of the interview.
Other techniques and ideas
Dealing with curveballs
Sometimes a contributor will offer a disarming response. If you’re asking a politician how much they earn, be prepared to know what to say if they ask you! A politician may turn your question to you and ask what do you think? To which we might politely remind them that it's their view that our audience is interested in!
The 'it’s all over' trick
Some nervous or inexperienced interviewees are easy conversationalists before the interview, but stiffen up when it begins, offering laboured or contrived responses. For these people it can be helpful to go through some questions and then conclude the interview and thank them but then follow up on some of the things they talked about. The sense of relief that the interview is apparently over can turn the conversation back to a more natural exchange.
Interviewing vulnerable people
Special consideration needs to be given when interviewing vulnerable people. They might include children, people with learning difficulties, victims of crime or the bereaved. Talk to your editor about consent. Consider going through a third party or family member, giving a vulnerable person time to think about what’s asked of them without pressure.
Build a relationship of trust and take more time to than usual to explain why you want to talk to them and how you’ll use their contribution. Be prepared to take breaks during the interview.
Consider giving a bereaved person a say in the output - it can be a really positive experience if they're able to discuss the content with the programme-maker.
Leave your contact details with the family so that if they have any questions or thoughts they can talk to someone.
Be prepared for your own reactions – you may get upset too.
