Editor's note: Lawrence Connor is a former managing editor of the Indianapolis Star. He has put together this package of tips to assist high school journalists. His tips are broken up into different links found here.

THE INTERVIEW

 A feature story is only as good as the information it contains; rarely will clever writing save a story if the material is dull or uninteresting. Very often the key to a successful feature story is the material a reporter gathers in interviews.

If you plan to interview someone, do some research about the person. Find out what you can about him or her. Talk to family members, colleagues, friends or enemies. Check the library or Google to learn if the person has been featured in newspapers or magazines. Bone up on the subject to be discussed. It will make you feel more comfortable and it will reassure the subject that he or she is not talking to some emptyhead. Don't fret about imposing on a person’s time; most people are flattered by the attention. Be prepared with questions and take notes. A tape recorder can be useful, especially as a backup tool, but turn it off if it seems to freeze the person being interviewed. 

Try talking to the persons face to face -- at eye level, if possible -- and preferably on their turf, rather than over the phone or by fax or e-mail. Talking to the person in his or her surroundings should help you gather colorful detail. People generally are more comfortable in their own homes or offices. Look around; note what’s hanging on the wall; is the person’s desk clear or cluttered? Note how the persons talk, how they’re dressed, how they react to questions. Does the person have any eccentricities? Look for anything odd, arresting, colorful, poignant, or funny. Make notes of your observations.  

Take your time and ease into the interview by making small talk to put the person at ease. It's acceptable to let the person ramble and digress but always keep your questions in mind. Try to keep your eyes on the person, rather than on your notes. Ask open-ended questions as opposed to ones that can be answered yes or no. Look for odd or arresting comments. Try to induce the person to tell stories or anecdotes that are revealing. Use questions like:

What happened then? Explain how that works? Talk about that. Tell me more. What did she do next? Who taught you that? When and where did you learn that? Has your life changed? What did it look like? Taste or feel like? What event shaped your life?  What is the biggest misconception about you? Do you have a hobby?

You are there to find out what the person has to say; not what you have to say. It doesn't hurt to ask what might seem to be an inane -- even stupid -- question. It sometimes gives the subject a chance to open up. If the answers come at you faster than you can get them on paper, ask the person to slow down or repeat. Even throw in a question that you don't care about so you can catch up. Learn when to back off; when to bring the person back on the subject. When the person becomes evasive or seems reluctant to answer, try being silent. People get edgy and they often break the silence with a revealing answer. Try to maintain a friendly manner, even when asking embarrassing or hostile questions.  Watch for significant quotes. You may want to put a star or check mark next to a quote that you believe important. The answers to many of your questions may not show up directly in your story but they will help you understand the person and the material covered. 

If you have embarrassing questions, hold on to them until perhaps the middle of the interview so you don't anger or frighten the person and jeopardize the interview from the start. Some reporters wind up interviews by asking questions such as, “Of all you have done, what has given you the most satisfaction?”… “How would you like to be remembered?"…”Do you have plans for the future?"…”Is there someone else I should talk to?” … “Is there anything you want to add or say that I haven't asked you about?"                                   

Try not to leave with unanswered questions, but don't hesitate to call back if you need clarification or additional information. In fact, it's a good idea to mention that you may be calling later with more questions, so get a telephone number, or an e-mail address. Make certain that you have the names and titles spelled correctly.

Chapters:

The Interview
Writing the Story
Editing your Copy
A Few Don'ts
Some General Advice
Say What You Mean
Use Words Correctly
Some Common Errors
Helpful Books
About the Author