Interviewing scientists can be an intimidating prospect—but it doesn’t need to be! As a journalist, you already have the skills you need to conduct effective interviews. There are just a few extra things to keep in mind when interviewing scientists.
They aren’t always trained to interact with the media, and they may be nervous about saying the wrong thing or their work being conveyed inaccurately. Assure your sources that you’re equally committed to accuracy.
You understand how journalism works. Head off concerns by walking sources through the reporting, writing, and fact-checking process.
It’s okay (and actually a good idea) to ask basic questions, which will yield clear explanations and quotes.
A little advance work will go a long way towards ensuring a smooth interview. Here are
some steps to help you make the most of your time with a scientist:
Use these questions to jumpstart your interview planning. Tailor them to your specific story and source. And remember to be flexible during the interview, asking follow-ups and clarifying questions on the fly.
Interviewing a scientist about a complex topic can be tough. Scientists may not be trained to speak plainly about their work and might even be encouraged to communicate in precise, technical language with others in their field. For many, using jargon is “automatic,” so your role as a journalist is to gently nudge them out of that habit. Here are some simple steps you can take when interviewing a scientist to ensure your conversation sounds more, well, conversational:
Scientists are used to collaborating on scientific papers, sending drafts back and forth among several authors. Or, if their work has been featured in a press release, they were likely given a chance to edit the copy. Scientist sources may assume journalism works the same way and ask to review your unpublished draft.
This question can be awkward to navigate, but sharing your draft early can invite requests to sanitize quotes and complicate the editorial process. Chances are your source may simply be concerned about being misquoted or their work being explained incorrectly. Ease these concerns—while maintaining both your journalistic integrity and a good relationship with your source—by following these tips:
Many publications’ policies forbid journalists from sharing drafts prior to publication. If that’s the case, politely explain that to your source.
Remind hesitant sources of your commitment to getting the facts right. Ask for clarification on unclear concepts and vet your understanding by repeating your sources’ comments back to them.
If your publication doesn’t have independent fact-checking, make your own plan to return to sources to check factual details, including paraphrased quotes, prior to publication.
