Common Mistakes in Interviews with Experts

Crafting compelling interviews with experts is a cornerstone of credible news reporting and insightful content creation. However, even seasoned journalists and content creators can fall prey to common pitfalls. Are you confident that your expert interviews are truly capturing the knowledge and insights you need to inform and engage your audience?

Failing to Do Preliminary Research

One of the most significant errors is entering an interview unprepared. It’s not enough to simply know of the expert; you need to understand their work, their perspectives, and their previous contributions to the field.

• Lack of Context: Without sufficient background knowledge, you risk asking basic questions that waste the expert’s time and bore your audience. You also miss opportunities to delve deeper into nuanced topics.
• Undermining Credibility: Demonstrating a lack of understanding can undermine your own credibility. Experts are more likely to offer valuable insights to interviewers who show they’ve done their homework.
• Missing Opportunities: Thorough research allows you to identify potential areas of disagreement or emerging trends that the expert can comment on.

Before any interview, dedicate time to reading the expert’s publications, reviewing their website, and exploring their presence on platforms like LinkedIn. Use tools like Google Scholar to find their research papers. This groundwork will allow you to formulate intelligent, targeted questions.

Based on my experience conducting hundreds of interviews, the quality of the conversation is directly proportional to the amount of preparation I put in beforehand.

Poor Question Formulation Techniques

The way you phrase your questions dramatically impacts the quality of the answers you receive. Vague, leading, or overly complex questions can lead to unhelpful responses.

• Avoid Leading Questions: Leading questions subtly suggest the answer you’re looking for, biasing the expert’s response. For example, instead of asking “Don’t you think the new policy is detrimental?”, ask “What are the potential impacts of the new policy?”.
• Be Specific: Instead of asking “What are the challenges in the industry?”, ask “What are the three biggest challenges facing companies adopting AI in the healthcare sector in 2026?”.
• Avoid Jargon: While the expert understands the technical terms of their field, your audience may not. Ask the expert to explain complex concepts in layman’s terms.
• Open-Ended Questions: Use open-ended questions that encourage the expert to elaborate. Questions starting with “How,” “Why,” “What,” and “Tell me about…” are generally more effective than those that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”

Ineffective Listening During the Interview

Interviewing isn’t just about asking questions; it’s about actively listening to the answers. Ineffective listening leads to missed opportunities for follow-up questions and a superficial understanding of the expert’s insights.

• Paying Attention: Put away distractions (close unnecessary browser tabs, silence your phone) and focus entirely on what the expert is saying.
• Taking Notes: Jot down key points, interesting phrases, and potential follow-up questions as the expert speaks. Don’t rely solely on your memory.
• Asking Clarifying Questions: If something is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. “Could you elaborate on that point?” or “Can you give me an example?” are valuable phrases.
• Recognizing Non-Verbal Cues: Pay attention to the expert’s body language and tone of voice. These cues can provide additional context and insight into their responses.

Active listening demonstrates respect for the expert and allows you to extract maximum value from the interview. It also fosters a more engaging and productive conversation.

Neglecting Follow-Up Questions

The initial question is often just the starting point. The real gold lies in the follow-up questions that delve deeper into the expert’s initial response.

• Probing for Details: Don’t be afraid to ask “Why?” or “How so?” to understand the reasoning behind the expert’s statements.
• Challenging Assumptions: Politely challenge assumptions or ask for evidence to support claims. This can uncover valuable insights and reveal potential biases.
• Connecting the Dots: Ask the expert to connect their insights to broader trends or real-world examples. This helps the audience understand the relevance and impact of their expertise.

For instance, if an expert says, “The market is becoming more competitive,” a good follow-up question would be, “What specific factors are driving that increased competition, and how are companies adapting their strategies?”.

Ignoring the Audience’s Perspective

Remember that you’re conducting the interview on behalf of your audience. It’s crucial to frame your questions and interpret the expert’s responses in a way that is relevant and understandable to them.

• Anticipate Audience Questions: Consider what your audience would want to know and ask questions that address their concerns.
• Translate Technical Jargon: Ask the expert to explain complex concepts in a way that is accessible to a general audience.
• Focus on Practical Applications: Emphasize the practical implications of the expert’s insights. How can the audience use this information to improve their lives or businesses?
• Relatability: Ask for real-world examples or case studies that illustrate the expert’s points.

Failing to Obtain Necessary Permissions

In the rush to conduct and publish interviews with experts for your news outlet, overlooking permissions can have serious legal and ethical ramifications. Always secure explicit consent before publishing any interview.

• Recording Consent: Inform the expert that you are recording the interview and obtain their consent. This is crucial for legal compliance and ethical journalism.
• Quote Approval: Offer the expert the opportunity to review and approve their quotes before publication. This ensures accuracy and avoids misunderstandings.
• Copyright and Usage: Clarify the copyright ownership of the interview and obtain permission to use it in your intended format (e.g., article, podcast, video).
• Data Privacy: Comply with all relevant data privacy regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA, when handling the expert’s personal information.

Using a simple consent form that outlines these points can help protect both you and the expert. Platforms like DocuSign can streamline the process of obtaining signatures electronically.

Conclusion

Mastering interviews with experts is vital for producing insightful and credible news. By avoiding common mistakes like inadequate preparation, poor question formulation, ineffective listening, neglecting follow-up questions, ignoring the audience, and failing to obtain necessary permissions, you can unlock the full potential of these conversations. Remember to prioritize thorough research, ask targeted questions, actively listen, and always obtain explicit consent. The key takeaway is to approach each interview as a collaborative effort aimed at delivering maximum value to your audience.