If there’s one skill journalism has taught me it’s interviewing: the last five years in writing and reporting have forced me to become accustomed to talking with students, professors, local figures, and politicians. While I’m by no means an expert in communication, journalism has given me a platform to greatly improve my skills. The first high-profile article I wrote in middle school required me to interview my town’s first superintendent. I methodically drafted the email and asked (and reasked) my dad to look over it. Around a week later, the interview date and time were set, and I compiled a short list of questions to ask.
Since then, however, my skills have grown and I feel much more confident interacting with new faces. I’ve learned to let a conversation flow naturally—I ask lots of follow-up questions to make sure the interviewee feels comfortable in their responses. In addition, I always research the interviewee prior to the interview in order to ask the most appropriate and relevant questions. I’ve come to realize that in many cases, the interviewee is just as nervous as I am going into the conversation. To help create an inviting environment, I love easing into the interview with a few “softball” questions.
I recently spoke with a Wesleyan senior, for instance, who is in the midst of completing her thesis while balancing extracurricular activities and classes. I chose an outdoor, somewhat secluded location to conduct the interview—there weren’t any distractions or background noises to interfere with the conversation. I started off by asking her about her day and schedule before jumping into my scripted questions. The resulting article ended up being one of my favorite pieces I’ve written, in large part due to the interview. Beyond journalism, interviewing has helped me with class projects, internships, and building relationships. Journalism provides me an opportunity to practice communicating with figures I normally wouldn’t, a skill that is applicable to everything and anything I may pursue.
