"What didn't I ask you that I should have?"
If you don't ask some variation of this question, you could be missing out on the real story. Asking it requires you to be prepared for the unexpected, to be flexible and to hold your ego in check since what you're really doing is asking your source to point out where you've failed at a core part of your job. But it can lead to unexpected stories. There are other ways to ask the question, so phrase yours in the way that makes the most sense to you. And, by all means, ask it more than once by changing up your wording. You'll be surprised at the answers people come up with after they've had a few minutes to think. The answers might be even better after a few hours or a day, so don't be afraid to follow up with a phone call to ask again.
I've asked these questions hundreds of times and almost everyone has had a helpful answer. Many times people raise angles I hadn't thought of, and their answers shape my reporting and sometimes lead to follow-up stories. Sometimes they reiterate points they've already made, but this is helpful, too. It clarifies their values and allows me to better capture the essence of their position. Most people want an opportunity to be heard. Ask questions that let them know you're listening. What are your must-ask interview questions? Let me know in the comments section.
1 Comment
Sparrow
2/9/2018 11:43:22 am
Obviously.
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Tracie MaurielloConverting caffeine into sentences since 1994. Archives
November 2019
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