Standing no taller than 4 feet, 10 inches, Sister Ellen Pickette looked at me and seriously asked, "Why are you here?” I’ll always remember the nun I interviewed for a special person’s story I was working on. She was quite the character and took over the interview, right from our first greeting. She challenged me, first with the above question, and then with a series of other questions that put me on the spot and made me feel like the tables were turned and I was the interviewee, not the interviewer. I think the real clincher was when she explained why she had challenged me in the first place. “I was giving a talk, in a prison of all places, …. I asked, “Why are you here? A hand went up in the back and a fellow said, “Rape and murder!” I thought, Oh my! That wasn’t the right question to ask in this place!” (Profile Kingston, January 18, 1989)

I learned a lot from that one little interview and the sweet little nun, all dressed in traditional garb, who enraptured my attention from the moment I sat opposite her at a table. Most importantly, as the interviewer, I learned it was imperative to capture the interviewee’s attention and make the whole experience pleasant, enjoyable, and not tedious. I also learned from the Sister’s stories (and she was quite the storyteller), that it was important to do the research before going into any venue or asking anyone pointed questions, like her famous, “Why are you here?” She learned quickly that certain questions in certain locales could spark some uncomfortable responses.

I had been told at earlier interviews that recording devices were not welcome. That was fine with me, as I was much better at shorthand than operating a device and depending on it to actually work for me. However, if recording the interview is an essential tool for you, be sure to be polite and ask first. Make sure you have everything ready to go with extra batteries… just in case. Don’t set the recording device directly between you and the interviewee – it can be unsettling to have a recording device right in front of you. Even if you do decide to record the interview (and are given permission to do so), take notes… just in case. And, make sure you’re familiar enough with your recording device that it doesn’t consume your time and attention. Remember, the interviewee should always be the focus of your attention.

Have a list of questions at the ready, though you will probably add to these questions as the interview progresses. Be polite at all times, from the opening greeting to the final closure which should end with a firm thank you.

When writing up the interview, don’t edit the interviewee’s comments. Remember, the spoken dialogue of any human is often done in fractured sentences and is seldom grammatically correct. Editing the interviewee’s words is taking away the unique character of the person you interviewed.

Interviewees frequently request to see the finished story before it goes to print. Your standard response should be something like, “The editor doesn’t approve of that, but I’ll make sure to send you any direct quotes I plan to use to get your verification and approval.” Make sure you send these quotes and follow up with any other promises you make. You want to keep yourself in the interviewee’s good books because you never know when you might want to interview them again.

Interviews don’t have to be stressful for either the interviewee or the interviewer. I learned that from Sister Ellen Pickette.