Interview rules

The interviewer's ground rules   (adapted from Mencher, News Reporting & Writing by Ann Silversides)

1. Identify yourself at the outset of the interview
2. State the purpose of the interview
3. Makes clear to those unaccustomed to being interviewed that the material will be used (or, in rare cases,   that it may not — if it is background, if you are interviewing a lot of people and know you won't be quoting them all. Sometimes this is worth a follow up call to tell them if the interview won't be used)
4. Estimate how much time you need for an interview
5. Keep the interview as short as possible (unless it is, for example, for a profile)
6. Ask specific questions hat the source is competent to answer
7. Give the source ample time to reply
8. Ask the source to clarify complex or vague answers
9. Read back answers if requested or when in doubt about the phrasing of crucial material
10. Insist on answers if the public has a right to know
11. Avoid lecturing, arguing or debating
12. If you accept an interview that is for background only or, more controversially, on a   not for attribution basis — think carefully about whether you want to do this — keep your agreement.

Verbal consent script

Please note the dates of all your interviews.

Interview approaches can differ. The following information must be statedbut the interviewer has discretion as to the order of what is said, and when. This script can also be used for an email approach, or for a letter of written consent should the interviewer or the interviewee prefer.

My name is ___________. *I am a English/professional writing major at York and I'm researching   an article for my class in Literary Nonfiction about ________.

I understand you [know all about /are the head of ..../] and I wonder if you might have some time -- either now or later --to talk to me about _______. [Give a brief overview of your research, including your objectives and methodology, i.e. who else you might interview and what other kinds of sources you might use].

Thank you for agreeing to an interview.

York policy requires me to tell you that you have the right to not answer questions and that you can end this interview at any point.

You have the right to request that you remain anonymous. Or, you may give me explicit permission to use your name. [Tell your interviewee if you have any intention of publishing or trying to publish your piece, or if you will use it for course requirements only.]

If you have any questions about this interview, please contact my instructor Prof. Julia Creet at creet@yorku.ca or 416 735 2100, ext. 30163. My contact info is _______.  [You might want to give interviewees you don't know a typed piece of paper with this information on it.]

Let me check that I have your name [and any title] spelled correctly.

Thank you for your time.