How to Properly Set up an Interview

How to Properly set-up an Interview

Being in the broadcast journalism business doing interviews area a very common thing. Interviews are the most useful ways to relay information out to the public and setting them up correctly can being more appealing and overall easy to relay the info. Here are the steps to correctly and properly setting up an interview.

1. Find someone to interview 

     - Obviously you would need someone. You would need someone who can relate to the package topic and deliver correct info.

2. Find an appropriate backdrop to set-up the interview.

     - Finding a relative backdrop isn't a huge deal but wouldn't be bad to have. Find somewhere that has even lighting doesn't have a lot of activity. Notice: The shot is in front a white wall and basketball player picture. Having nothing to do with the actually story.

3. Lighting

     - Lighting is a major key to having a great shot. Lighting can be tricky with finding the "gray area" of lighting. If too much light is shown the shot will be too bright and the interviewee is in heaven or is ghost white. If the lighting is not enough the person will be fading to darkness and the overall shot will be darker and hard to see.  Notice: The front of her face as well as the left side of shot is darker than the background. Even it out.

4. Sitting the person

     -  When sitting the interviewee down make sure you are eye level with the person. Whether you are standing or sitting. Keep the camera as close to eye level with the person as well. Another key part to sitting to person for the shot is having the person look across the camera shot.  Notice: How she is looking straight up. She should be looking to the left side of the shot and straight eye level with the interviewer. 

5. It's complete

     - The shot is complete. Press the record button and ask good questions that require more than one word answers.