Creative Interviewing: The Writer's Guide to Gathering Information by Asking Questions (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Ken Metzler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0205262589 | ISBN-13: 978-0205262588 | Publication Date: September 20, 1996 | Edition: 3

This comprehensive book covers everything an aspiring interviewer needs to know from developing listening and observation skills to conducting interviews by electronic mail and surfing the Internet for story ideas. Creative Interviewing aids readers by using examples and anecdotal accounts of actual professional experiences. Readers are provided with step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for and conduct a strong interview, how to obtain dramatic anecdotes from sources, how to build conversational rapport, how to conduct interviews for broadcast, and how to cope with the dynamics of a series of interviews on a certain topic. For any professional who wishes to improve their interviewing skills.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This comprehensive book covers everything an aspiring interviewer needs to know from developing listening and observation skills to conducting interviews by electronic mail and surfing the Internet for story ideas. Creative Interviewing aids readers by using examples and anecdotal accounts of actual professional experiences. Readers are provided with step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for and conduct a strong interview, how to obtain dramatic anecdotes from sources, how to build conversational rapport, how to conduct interviews for broadcast, and how to cope with the dynamics of a series of interviews on a certain topic. For any professional who wishes to improve their interviewing skills.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 3 edition (September 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205262589
• ISBN-13: 978-0205262588
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cornerstone on which to build good journalistic skills, June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creative Interviewing: The Writer's Guide to Gathering Information by Asking Questions (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

The first edition of this book was used in a journalism program I took about 13 years ago. I found it to be a great, entertaining read, and extremely valuable in its common-sense approach to interviewing. Over the years since, I have trained many beginning journalists, and I find myself returning to Metzler's ideas often. I think this book should be required reading for anyone who has to conduct information-gathering interviews.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tactics And Strategies To Make The Most Out Of An Interview, December 2, 2001

By 

M. Bennett "distance_cyclist" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Interviewing: The Writer's Guide to Gathering Information by Asking Questions (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

I am not a writer nor journalist but a person in the field of marketing. Since journalists are the experts at extracting information from people they are interviewing, I thought this could help me in my field. In marketing, it is necessary for me to understand why people buy or have an affinity with a certain product or person. I interview people in the same manner journalists do but with a slightly different objective in mind. I explore the person's mind to find an unkown reason for buying a certain product just as journalist wants to discover something never revealed before to the public about an actor or politician. This book provided me with many new insights about the person being interviewed, their reasons for opening up to the interviewer and how to conduct the interview in an organised manner while also being flexible when things start to lead astray from my original plans. This book has helped me in many ways. I highly recommend it to business people to read as well.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for serious journalism students, August 23, 2003

By 

Bert Ruiz "Author" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Interviewing: The Writer's Guide to Gathering Information by Asking Questions (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This book shows you how to conduct just about every type of interview. It also explains concepts, helps the journalist devise a plan and more importantly provides key information on how to cope with the "difficult interview." In my opinion, "The Writer's Guide to Gathering Information by Asking Questions: Creatinve Interviewing," by Ken Metzler should be required reading for serious journalism students everywhere.

"The need for interviewing skills is by no means confined to newspaper writers," according to the author. And I agree. The corporate world is always interviewing...they are always on the look for new talent. In many cases, they need to be better than simply ask, "where do you want to be in five years."

Believe or not there truly are many typical errors you want to avoid when interviewing. To this end, you will find a healthy discussion on how to avoid mistakes here. Moreover, this book will help you navigate the tricky interview process. Chapters two and three are terrific. Chapter two outlines the ten stages of the interview. And chapter three covers the conversational dynamics of interviewing. This book even includes a chapter on interviewing excercises.

All in all this book is a valuable tool for everyone interested in making journalism a profession. The gathering of information in journalism is primarily done by oral means. Consequently, it makes sense to seek the knowledge of a book that helps you control an interview and how to handle sensitive issues. Highly recommended.

Bert Ruiz