Will you ask the questions that really tell the story?
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Students will demonstrate their ability to conduct a journalistic interview by creating a five-minute podcast of an interview with a person they find interesting or newsworthy.
SET UP
- Students will read “The Art of the Interview” by Neal Conan.
LEARNING ACTIVITY
- Students will chose a person who they feel is interesting or newsworthy to interview and contact the subject to request an interview.
- Students will conduct background research on the subject, the subject’s history, the subject’s area of expertise, and other vital information.
- The students will prepare a list of at least 10 questions to ask the subject, but should conduct the interview like a conversation and ask questions that are appropriate in the flow of that conversation.
- The students will record the interview. In the (likely) event that the interview is longer the five minutes, the students will use commonly available editing software (audacity.sourceforge.net is a site for one popular program) to create a five-minute production of their best material.
- Students will e-mail the instructor a copy of the file.
SCORING BENCHMARKS
On Task: The student completed readings, research and interviews and turned in all parts of the assignment ahead of the deadline.
Information: The completed interview is the product of significant research and includes thoughtful questions that incite enlightening answers.
Composition: The interview includes an introduction of the interviewer and the subject as well as a short explanation/biography of the subject.
Production: The recorded interview is five minutes or less and, if edited, flows in a logical fashion. All voices in the recording are clear.
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