What is the best way to prepare for an interview with an article source?

The best way to prepare for an interview with an article source is to follow these steps:

1. Read the Article: Understand the main points and arguments made in the article. Take notes on key details.

2. Research the Author: Learn about the author’s background and expertise. This can help you ask better questions.

3. Prepare Questions: Think of specific questions you want to ask based on the article. Focus on areas you want to know more about.

4. Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse how you will ask your questions. Make sure to sound clear and confident.

5. Stay Open-Minded: Be ready for new information or different perspectives during the interview.

6. Show Interest: Be enthusiastic and engaged. This can encourage the source to share more details.

7. Take Notes: Write down important points during the interview for later reference.

By following these steps, you will feel more prepared and can have a productive interview.

From someone who's interviewed 100+ sources (and still gets nervous).

After botching my first few source interviews years ago (including one where I forgot to ask the expert's actual name – true story), I've developed a system that actually works.

Here's what I've learned:

The Two-Page Method:

• Page 1: Background research (but not the Wikipedia rabbit hole we all fall into)
• Page 2: Questions, organized by topic (not a rigid script)

What actually matters:

• Read their recent work/talks/posts first. Nothing makes an interview awkward faster than asking about their 2020 research when they've published groundbreaking stuff last month.
• Draft your critical questions, but keep them in bullet points. Full sentences make you sound like you're reading from a teleprompter (learned this one the hard way).
• The money question: Always ask "What's the question I should have asked but didn't?" It's amazing what people tell you when you hand them the microphone.

The stuff people usually forget: 

• Test your recording setup beforehand (trust me on this)
• Have a backup method ready (because Murphy's Law)
• Keep water nearby 
• Schedule 15 minutes more than you think you need

Walking red flags: 

• Overprepping: If you're writing a novel of questions, you're doing it wrong
• Underprepping: "I'll just wing it" is a recipe for disaster
• Sticking too rigidly to your questions (sometimes the best stuff comes from going off-script)

One last tip - I usually keep a running document of generic but good questions that work for almost any interview. Saves time and prevents brain freeze.

P.S. If you've ever had that moment where your recording failed... I see you. We've all been there. Now I always have my phone recording as backup. 

If you'd like to have a chat, feel free to message me directly.  

As a trained journalist, I can tell you there are definitely good and bad ways to prepare for an interview. There is also the risk of overpreparing and leaving yourself too rigid in your process.

1. Do your homework. The more research you can arm yourself with, the better your questions will be. The more in-depth your research, the more niche the questions. If you can ask a couple of questions they have never been asked before, you are bound to get some great answers.
2. Prepare five great questions. You should go into any interview with a good bank of questions you are definitely going to ask. Don't try and do this off the cuff.
3. Be flexible. Just because you went in there with five questions doesn't mean you can't switch things up. Bounce off their answers and ask a fun follow-up if it seems right. These often lead to the best answers.
4. Nod along without interrupting or making a noise - especially if you need to use the audio later.
5. Match the tone of your questions and overall vibe to the tone of the topic. If it is a sombre topic, remain formal and professional. If it's quite a fun topic, you can be much looser and have a laugh with it.
6. Be polite throughout. 

The best way to prepare for an interview with an article source? Oh, glad you asked! 

1. Do Your Homework: And no, I don't mean cramming 10 minutes before. Dig deep like you're about to discover their hidden superpowers. Know their work, life, and maybe even their favorite pizza topping (you never know when that’ll come in handy).

2. Prepare Your Questions: Think of this like you're crafting the perfect playlist—mix it up! A little professional, a little personal, and one wildcard question that might just make them laugh. Bonus points if they say, “Wow, no one’s ever asked me that!”

3. Practice Your Listening Face: Whether it’s a head nod or the classic "I'm-so-interested" lean, you want to look engaged. But not too much—no one wants to be interviewed by a bobblehead.

4. Relax: Remember, they’re human too (unless you're interviewing an AI, in which case, still chill). Take a deep breath, ask good questions, and be ready to follow up with whatever curveball they throw your way.

In short: research like Sherlock, question like Oprah, and nod like you’ve got this! 

As a journalist, I've conducted countless interviews with sources, and preparation is key to getting the most valuable insights. Here’s how I ensure every interview is productive and insightful:

• Research the Source – Before the interview, do thorough research on your source. Understand their background, expertise, recent work, and any relevant personal or professional details. Check their website and LinkedIn profile, but also Google their name to see what additional information comes up. This knowledge will help you come up with more informed questions and you can use it to build rapport. For example, if you’re interviewing a CEO about company culture, know their company’s values and recent achievements to frame your questions effectively.
• Know Your Topic Inside Out – Make sure you’re well-versed in the topic at hand. Read up on recent articles, studies, or news to understand current trends, controversies, and relevant statistics. This allows you to ask specific, meaningful questions that go beyond surface-level information and shows your source that you’re thoroughly prepared. Having said that, if they start talking about something you don't understand, be honest about that. That way, you can ask them to explain it to you in a way that will be helpful for the content you're writing.
• Prepare Open-Ended Questions – Develop a list of open-ended questions that encourage your source to provide detailed responses. These questions should prompt them to share their expertise, opinions, and personal stories. Instead of asking, “Is your company growing?” try “What strategies have been most effective in driving your company’s recent growth?” Open-ended questions foster more engaging and informative discussions. If you're not sure how to do this, take your initial list of questions, and ask an AI language model like Chat GPT to help you brainstorm more open-ended versions. Don't run with whatever Chat GPT gives you, though. Pick the questions that you feel will genuinely help you as you write your article.
• Create a Logical Flow – Organise your questions in a logical order, starting with general topics and gradually moving to more specific or sensitive areas. This helps maintain a natural flow of conversation and makes your source feel more comfortable, leading to more in-depth sharing as the interview progresses. In our company culture example, you could start by asking broad questions about the company culture as it currently is, and then you can go into more specific questions that ask for the exact strategies used to achieve that culture.
• Be Ready to Listen and Adapt – While having prepared questions is crucial, it’s equally important to stay flexible. Think like a journalist, listen actively, and be prepared to follow up on intriguing points your source brings up. Trust me, some of the best insights come from unplanned directions, so don’t hesitate to explore these paths during the conversation.
• Test Your Tech and Logistics – If your interview is over the phone or a Zoom call, ensure all your equipment is functioning properly beforehand. Test your microphone, camera, and internet connection to avoid technical issues. For in-person interviews, confirm the location and time in advance, and bring a backup recorder to capture the conversation accurately. Nothing gets you off to a poor start like tech issues. Luckily, these days people can be more forgiving, but it shows that you respect your source's time when you make sure everything is working correctly from the start.
• Set the Tone for Trust and Openness – Start the interview by setting a positive tone. Explain the purpose of the interview and how you plan to use the information. Let them know that they are being recorded (which I highly recommend that you do). Make your source feel comfortable and emphasise that you’re there to listen and represent their expertise accurately. I also find it helpful to allow them to review the content before you publish it. This really puts people at greater ease.

There you have it! These are the interview steps that I've followed as a journalist for over two decades now. I believe they will help you prepare for an interview that is both respectful and insightful, leading to richer content for your article or blog post.