How to Interview Someone by Email: Part 2 of 3
Posted on 23 February 2008
This three-part series is looking at why to avoid email interviews, when to embrace them (today’s post), and how to conduct them.
Why Email Interviews Are Useful
Sometimes an email interview is the only way you have to pick a special source’s brains, and it can be a practical option in your writer’s toolbox. Here are a few reasons to consider using email to conduct an interview:
1 – You and your interviewee can manage your time better. Maybe one of you is free during the business week and the other is only available nights and weekends. Or maybe you’re juggling an immediate deadline while today is the only time your interviewee is free to talk.
2 – It focuses you. Emailing your questions to someone allows you to carefully arrange the order, pacing, and tone of your questions for maximum effectiveness. Putting your thoughts in order by writing down all your questions may help you manage the interview better, particularly if you’re the type to get sidetracked and wander off topic.
3 – Analytical, paranoid interviewees will feel more in control. Some interviewees are more comfortable and relaxed if they can get an overall view of where you’re going with an interview.
4 – You can back up your story. It can put your mind (and your attorney’s mind) at ease if you get responses in writing when interviewing a litigious person on a touchy subject.
5 – Email opens the door for interviewees who are info-dumpers. It’s easier for your interviewee to send you links and attach documents and graphics to further explain the topic if he can do so via email. This is incredibly useful if you’re writing about something technical that is beyond your own expertise. It’s also one reason why email is more useful when working on non-fiction stories and fiction background research instead of for working on non-fiction feature stories.
Take-away question for you:
Can you think of any other benefits to doing interviews via email? Please post them in the comments!
Previous Post in This Series:
Next Post in This Series:
- Conducting the Email Interview (coming on Sunday)
Related Post:
[tags]email interview[/tags]
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[...] three-part series will look at why to avoid email interviews (today’s post), when to embrace them, and how to conduct [...]