KPCC Assignment Blog Post
While the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the boundaries of what it means to conduct an interview as a reporter, this KPCC assignment put me in a reporting position that I had never experienced before. Not only were we conducting the interviews virtually, but we also had a script to follow — something I wasn’t super used to. Usually when I am interviewing someone, whether it be for a class assignment or an Annenberg Media piece, I have a good amount — if not all — of the control over what is being asked. Following the KPCC interview question guide forced me to think more closely about how I was asking these questions, instead of merely what the questions themselves were asking. This was a valuable experience, especially because the interview was over Zoom, so I had to really consider the way in which I was coming across to the interviewee.
Without the atmosphere and nuances that normally comes with an in-person interview, I was more cognizant of my role as the reporter. I felt as if I had more of a role in guiding and pushing the conversation, because the conversation was more likely to hit a lull over Zoom, rather than in-person. While I never felt like I was pressing my subject for more information, I definitely was more aware of the task at hand: moving the interview in accordance with the KPCC guidelines. Whether that makes interviews more mechanical and less organic, it’s hard to tell after only one experience, but I’d imagine so.
I thought it was really interesting to hear what my interview subject had to say about the state of higher education in our country, because she was particularly passionate. I interviewed one of my best friends from home and while I have had countless private conversations with her about the college system, it was super interesting to hear her more “formal, academic” take on the matter. That being said, knowing the context and backstory to why she believes certain things and having to separate that from the interview questions provided for an interesting experience as a reporter. For someone on the outside looking in, her answers may have told one story, but as someone with more familiarity with her, like myself, they take on a totally different meaning.
One of the points that the interviewee brought up which really stuck with me was when she talked about how thankful she was for the public school system she was raised with. Oftentimes we forget the impact that early childhood education has on shaping us, but she was very aware of the way in which her childhood education helped build her values and worldview. It was an interesting direction for the interview to take, because the guide seemed to focus on higher education pathways and yet, many of her anecdotes came from her elementary and middle school days. This further proved to me that no matter how much you try to shape a conversation as a reporter, sometimes the interview will take a totally different course.
Another part of the KPCC interview style that I found compelling was the fact that each 372 student had the same guidelines for the interview, yet we all had totally different conversations. This proves that no matter how structured an interview is, what really dictates the storyline is the interviewee’s own lived experience. How my subject, a junior English major from the Bay Area, interprets the exact same questions as one of my peer’s subjects is completely different — and this is what makes this style of interviewing so interesting. We are all asking the same things, but what we receive could not be more different.
While I can’t say that I personally prefer working with an interview guide rather than crafting my own interview questions, I’m glad I had the opportunity to try this reporting style. As a journalist, especially a remote journalist in 2020, I think having the ability to adapt to different interview prompts and structures is a vital part of our journalistic tool kits.
Yes, it wasn’t the most comfortable or organic interview experience for myself, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t educational. Being a journalist that can navigate these “less than ideal” interview setups is something I strive to be, so I’m glad this KPCC assignment put me in this position.
