Interview

What is an Interview?

An interview is a methodical question-and-answer conversation for gaining information. A questioning person (such as a journalist) questions another in a targeted way about a topic, their person, or their expertise.

Interview in Detail

The interview is one of the fundamental forms of journalistic and communicative work. It serves to gain information, assessments, positions, or personal insights and to prepare them for an audience. Interviews differ by medium (print, radio, TV, online), purpose (expert, personal, confrontation interview, among others), and situation (live or recorded). For the interviewee, it is decisive to understand that an interview is not a private conversation: it has an audience, follows journalistic rules, and statements can be quoted. Success factors on the interviewee's side are clear key messages, good preparation, concise answers, and the composed handling of difficult questions (for example via bridging). A successful interview combines the medium's interest in information with the interviewee's ability to convey their messages understandably and credibly.

In practice, the most important insight for interviewees is that an interview is not a private conversation: it has an audience, follows journalistic rules, and statements can be quoted. Success rests on clear key messages, good preparation, and concise answers. Interviews differ by medium, purpose – such as expert, personal, or confrontation interview – and situation, that is, live or recorded; each form places its own demands. Difficult questions are mastered with techniques such as bridging, by briefly addressing the question and steering with composure to your own message. A successful interview combines the medium's interest in information with the ability to convey your own messages understandably and credibly.

What is an Interview used for?

The interview gains information, assessments, or personal insights through a targeted question-and-answer conversation and prepares them for an audience. For interviewees, clear key messages, good preparation, and the composed handling of questions count.

Interview – Examples in Practice

A journalist questions an expert about a current development. A radio station interviews a board member live. A newspaper conducts a portrait interview with a founder.

Interview: Key Features at a Glance

• Form: a methodical question-and-answer conversation
• Purpose: gain information and assessments
• Variants: by medium, purpose, and situation
• Public: not a private conversation, quotable
• Success: key messages and preparation

Related Terms

• Interview Formats
• Interview Setting
• Interview Preparation
• Interview Training
• Soundbite (O-Ton)

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Interview: Frequently Asked Questions

What is an interview?

A methodical question-and-answer conversation for gaining information, in which one person questions another in a targeted way about a topic.

What types of interviews are there?

For example expert, personal, biographical, and confrontation interviews – distinguished by medium, purpose, and situation (live or recorded).

What should you watch for as an interviewee?

That an interview is not a private conversation: it has an audience, and statements can be quoted. Clear key messages and preparation are decisive.

How do you master difficult questions in an interview?

With prepared key messages and techniques such as bridging – briefly address the question and steer with composure to your own message.