Interviewing Guidelines

First off, we want interesting interviews, so ask interested questions. Be curious. (But be tactful as well; we’re not a tabloid.) If you’ve got a burning question you’re dying to ask, ask it.
We want uplifting interviews. Keep things positive.
And this should go without saying, but just be polite and kind and courteous. We want all of the interviewees to feel comfortable and happy with how the interview turns out.

Before the interview: Prepare a list of 12–15 questions beforehand, then run them by your section editor before you start the interview. You aren’t limited to these questions, by the way — they’re just a foundation. Feel free to react to the interviewee’s answers and ask new questions as the interview goes along. Be human.
Don’t ask yes/no questions; ask questions that elicit responses (how, why, etc.).
The interview should showcase the interviewee, not the interviewer. Questions should not be longer than two lines/sentences. Keep them short.
Questions we want asked:
- How they got started in their area of work
- Specific pieces of work (choose a piece or two and ask what it was like creating it)
- How they work (their creative process)
- The intersection of faith (specifically the gospel) and art in their work and their life
  - This is perhaps the most important question (since it’s what the magazine is all about). Ask them how the gospel affects them as an artist and how they see their work building the kingdom?

Always record the interview!
Record using whatever method available to you, so long as we can get a digital file of it afterwards (WAV or MP3).
Test things beforehand and make sure you have enough battery power or hard drive space or whatnot for an hour or two.
Make sure you use headphones if you’re using a microphone — otherwise there’ll be an echo of the interviewee’s voice which is a devil to transcribe.
Ask for permission to record.
Take notes as you go. Also write down new questions as they come to mind over the course of the conversation.
Don’t overstay your welcome. Interviews should not last longer than 90 minutes, and you’ll find that 60 minutes is often more than enough.
Get spellings of all names the interviewee mentions (to make transcription easier). It’s okay to stop them and ask how to spell things. (Well, wait until they finish their sentence/paragraph. :))