Page:Oregon Exchanges.pdf/101

Oregon Exchanges make-up, headlines, circulation problems, advertising; and all subjects are treated in a thorough, practical manner.

"The Country Weekly" is the next best thing to a university course in country journalism, and every man in the business, whether he is a cub reporter or a man with a lifetime experience, will get some valuable pointers by reading it.

While it is true that the occasion may arise in newspaper work for breaking a hard and fast rule, still for incipient journalists a code of rules embodying the main principles of the work is invaluable. For this reason the instructions on interviewing printed below are given to every student in the newswriting classes of the University of Oregon.

This is the first of a series of articles illustrating methods of instruction followed by the University in the training of future journalists. Other phases of newspaper work will be treated in later numbers of Oregon Exchanges, if they prove of interest to the newspapermen of Oregon.

1. Find out all you can about your "subject" before you speak to him. Ask somebody. Look him up in Who 's Who or wherever else he may be written up. Get into your mind accurately his exact offices or distinguishing features. Pronounce his name over to yourself several times until it comes to your lips easily and naturally.

2. Find out all you can about the matter on which you are to interview him. It is better to ask someone who knows than to depend upon scrap books or reference books, but where it is practicable, do both. Read a magazine article on the matter where one is obtainable.

3. Where the interview is of a general nature (not about a deﬁnite theme determined beforehand) make a little outline (in about four words) of the different fields in which you think the interview might be productive. Memorize This Outline, and do not end the interview until you have tried all the points you thought of.

Start by telling frankly whom you represent and what you want. Address your "subject" by name in practically every sentence. Look him in the eye, and if you take notes do not look at your notebook while you write. Look interested and be interested in everything he says. Do not do much talking yourself in the first part of the interview; your main purpose is to encourage the subject to talk freely and interestedly while you are sizing him up and sizing up the matter under discussion. Little expressions of interest, of approval, or curiosity are all you ought to permit yourself in the first part of the interview. This part of the interview ends when you have made up your mind what kind of a story you want and can get from your "subject." The second part consists in getting it. 8