Deck 6: Public Records

Question 1

You should avoid titles when contacting experts because it sounds pompous.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

It is a good idea to interview people in their home.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

You should always avoid email communication with people you interview.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

You should directly quote someone whenever the information they give you is important.

Question 5

The more difficult a question is, the more forthright you should be as you ask it.

Question 6

In an investigative story, who is a stakeholder?

A) Someone who owns stock in the corporation you are investigating
B) Someone who owns a piece of property at the heart of your investigation
C) Someone who is affected by the problem you are investigating
D) Someone who likely caused the problem you are investigating

Question 7

When do email interviews work best?

A) When you need to get a sense of who the person is
B) When you need to verify information
C) When you don't want to throw someone off with your body language
D) When you want to avoid miscommunication

Question 8

When you prepare for an interview with someone, what should you know?

A) The identities of important people or events that affect the person's profession or job
B) More about the subject than the person you interview
C) The names of the person's pets and children
D) The person's exact title.

Question 9

What is a primary question?

A) A question you ask when you first introduce yourself
B) A question you ask the first time you interview someone
C) Any question that you ask the person most central to your story
D) Any question central to your investigation

Question 10

When you do an interview on "Deep Background," what does that mean?

A) You won't use the person's name in your story.
B) You can't use the information in anyway.
C) You will be willing to go to jail to protect the identity of the source.
D) You can use the information if you get it elsewhere.

Question 11

What is source development?

Question 12

Why is timing often a deciding factor in whether a person will grant you an interview?

Question 13

Why might you want to interview someone over the phone rather than in person?

Question 14

Why might you want to interview someone in person rather than over the phone?

Question 15

What does it mean to control an interview?

Question 16

Why should you ask the same question to different people?

Question 17

Why should you avoid using anonymous sources in your story?

Question 18

When someone wants to talk to you off the record, what should you do?

Question 19

What are some ways of getting anecdotes in interviews?

Question 20

What characteristics do you find in "killer quotes"?