Creative Interviewing: The Writer's Guide to Gathering Information by Asking Questions

by Ken Metzler

Paperback

Published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[Binser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great if you're a budding journalist looking for some guidance on good interviewing, or if you're a veteran looking to brush up on the basics. Metzler breaks down every step in the process, from initial research and first contact all the way through the actual interview and on to the followup/finishing the story.

He peppers it with real examples of writing and actual accounts of interviews. The more amusing segments include accounts of embarrassing mistakes made early in the careers of famous television journalists, including a particularly memorable slipup by The Today Show's Ann Curry when she was a budding reporter.

There are a couple of examples of dated attitudes, though, including one instance in which Metzler suggests that you might want to try commenting on a feminist interview subject's legs to lighten the mood. The edition I have was published in the eighties, I believe, so this bit of advice may have been taken out.

Even with a few segments of weirdly inappropriate advice, I found the book to be really enlightening. Overall, I'd recommend it. And since it's a light, breezy read, it won't take much time to get through it.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be more helpful to an early-career journalist, but I appreciated the refresher. This book had good tips about doing research prior to an interview and unique questions to ask. A lot of things included in this book are learned through trial by fire when a journalist starts his or her career. The book was a bit in some respects, including information about new marvels, such as "electronic mail." overall a worthy read.

[Chris]

Good basic guide to interviewing if you are starting from zero. Thanks for the recommendation, Matthew!