How to Conduct and Write Interviews That Reveal Character

The difference between a good interview and a great one often comes down to a single question—the one that cracks open a subject's carefully maintained facade and reveals the human underneath. But that question doesn't come from a template or standard list. It comes from preparation, active listening, and understanding that interviews are conversations with purpose, not interrogations.

Most journalists conduct mediocre interviews because they focus on extracting information rather than building conversation. They ask their prepared questions, write down answers, and miss the revealing moments that happen between official responses—the pause before answering, the topic they avoid, the story they tell when notebook is closed.

This guide shows you how to conduct and write interviews that reveal character. You'll learn how to prepare strategically by researching deeply and identifying key questions, build rapport that encourages authentic responses, ask questions that go beyond surface answers, listen actively for what's not being said, handle difficult or evasive subjects professionally, capture voice and personality in written profiles, and structure interview-based stories that engage readers.

Strategic Preparation That Shows Respect

Great interviews start before you walk in the room. Preparation isn't just professional courtesy—it's what separates journalists who get surface answers from those who get truth.

Research Your Subject Thoroughly

Read everything available: Previous interviews, published writing, social media, court records if relevant, professional history. You're looking for what's already known so you can ask what isn't.

Identify information gaps: What do you not know that matters? What have other interviewers never asked? What seems contradictory in public record?

Find connecting points: Shared interests, mutual acquaintances, places you've both been. Not for manipulation but for authentic connection. People open up to people they relate to.

Understand their incentives: Why are they talking to you? What do they want communicated? This helps you navigate what they're trying to accomplish versus what you need.

Prepare Questions in Tiers

Tier 1 - Must-ask questions: Core information you absolutely need. Basic facts, key experiences, central tensions. These are your safety net.

Tier 2 - Want-to-ask questions: Deeper exploration, interesting tangents, revealing details. Pursue if time allows.

Tier 3 - Dream questions: The questions you'd ask if they opened up completely. Keep these ready for moments of vulnerability or openness.

But hold questions lightly. Best interviews follow conversation where it goes, not rigid scripts.

Logistical Preparation

• Test recording equipment beforehand (and bring backup)
• Arrive early to observe environment and ease your own nerves
• Plan for twice as long as you think you need
• Know your exit strategy if interview goes badly

Building Rapport That Encourages Authenticity

People don't reveal themselves to strangers. Your job is to stop being a stranger as quickly as possible.

The First Five Minutes Matter

Small talk with purpose: Comment on photos, books, office details. Ask about the coffee shop they chose. Show you're observant and interested in them as humans, not just sources.

Explain your process: How long will this take? How will you use the interview? Will you fact-check quotes with them? Clarity reduces anxiety.

Start with easy questions: Warm up with softball questions before diving into difficult territory. Let them relax into conversation.

Show you've done homework: Reference something specific from your research. This signals respect and seriousness.

During the Interview

Maintain eye contact: Even while taking notes, look up frequently. People talk to faces, not to tops of heads bent over notebooks.

React authentically: Laugh at jokes. Express surprise at revelations. Nod understanding. You're having conversation, not conducting deposition. Authentic reactions encourage more openness.

Embrace silence: After asking meaningful question, shut up. Let silence sit. Many people will fill it with their most honest answers. Don't rescue them from discomfort of silence.

Follow their energy: If they light up discussing something, explore it even if it wasn't on your list. If they're clearly uncomfortable, adjust approach. Read the room.

Building Trust

Be honest about your angle: Don't pretend you're writing puff piece when you're investigating. But be fair—you're seeking truth, not predetermined narrative.

Respect boundaries: If they say something is off record, honor it (but establish this before they say it, not after). If they don't want to discuss topic, note it and move on.

Follow through: If you promise to send quotes for fact-checking or share publication date, do it. Reliability builds reputation that helps future interviews.

Question Strategies That Elicit Revealing Answers

The questions you ask determine the answers you get. Master different question types and when to use each.

Open-Ended Questions

These invite storytelling and reflection:

• "Walk me through that day..."
• "How did you get into this work?"
• "What was going through your mind when...?"
• "Tell me about [specific moment]..."

Use these early and often. They produce narrative material, not just facts.

Specific Questions

These nail down details:

• "What time did this happen?"
• "Who else was there?"
• "What were his exact words?"
• "How many times did this occur?"

Use these to verify and add precision to vague answers.

Challenging Questions

These confront contradictions or difficult truths:

• "You said X earlier, but documents show Y. Can you explain that?"
• "Critics say [allegation]. How do you respond?"
• "Why should readers believe you when [evidence contradicts]?"

Use these sparingly and strategically. Build rapport first. Ask these when you've earned the right or when they're necessary. Tone matters—neutral curiosity, not prosecutorial aggression.

The Follow-Up

Most revealing answers come from follow-ups, not initial questions:

• "Can you give me an example?"
• "What do you mean by that?"
• "How so?"
• "Tell me more..."

Don't settle for generalities. Push gently for specifics.

The Killer Question

Near the end, when rapport is strong and they've relaxed:

• "What haven't I asked that I should have?"
• "What do you want people to understand that media usually gets wrong?"
• "What's the one thing you wish I knew about this?"

These often produce best material because subjects reveal what they actually want to communicate.

Active Listening for Subtext

What people don't say often matters more than what they do. Train yourself to hear beyond words.

Listen for Gaps and Evasions

When subjects avoid questions, change topics, or give non-answers, that's data. Note what makes them uncomfortable. Follow up later or from different angle.

Watch Body Language

Do they lean in when discussing certain topics and pull back on others? Do hands fidget when discussing specific subjects? Physical tells reveal comfort and discomfort.

Note Contradictions

Do their stories contradict previous statements, known facts, or even things they said earlier in same interview? Don't pounce immediately—note them and return strategically.

Hear the Unspoken

Who don't they mention? What topics do they skip? What emotions do they show? Absence can be as revealing as presence.

Writing Profiles That Capture Voice

The interview is just the beginning. Great profiles translate conversation into compelling narrative.

Show Character Through Details

Don't tell readers someone is "passionate" or "dedicated." Show it:

Weak: "She's deeply committed to her work."

Strong: "She keeps a sleeping bag in her office. 'I can't leave when the data's not right,' she says, gesturing to the whiteboard covered in equations she's been revising since 3 a.m."

Capture Distinctive Speech Patterns

People reveal themselves through how they talk. Preserve distinctive phrases, speech rhythms, verbal tics that characterize them. But don't overdo dialect or quirks—that becomes caricature.

Structure Around Revealing Moments

Build profiles around specific scenes or moments that illuminate character:

• Opening scene that establishes personality or stakes
• Key moments from their life that shaped them
• Observations from time you spent together
• Telling anecdotes that reveal values or character

Let Contradictions Exist

Real people are contradictory. Don't smooth over tensions or complexities to create tidy narrative. The brilliant scientist who's terrible at email. The compassionate activist with a short temper. Contradictions make people human.

Handling Difficult Interviews

Not every interview goes smoothly. Learn to navigate challenges.

The Evasive Subject

When someone won't answer directly:

• Try rephrasing from different angle
• Note the evasion explicitly: "You didn't answer my question about..."
• Move on and circle back later when they're more comfortable
• Report the evasion if it's newsworthy: "Declined to answer questions about..."

The Hostile Subject

When someone is defensive or aggressive:

• Stay calm and professional
• Acknowledge their concerns: "I understand this is difficult"
• Reframe questions to be less confrontational
• Give them space to express frustration, then redirect

The Over-Talker

When someone rambles without answering:

• Politely interrupt with specific follow-up
• Redirect: "That's interesting, but I want to make sure I understand [specific point]"
• Manage time explicitly: "I have just a few more questions..."

Ethical Considerations

Interviews involve trust and power dynamics. Navigate them thoughtfully.

Off the Record

Establish ground rules before interview starts. Once someone says something, you can't retroactively make it off record unless you agree. Be clear about what "off the record," "background," and "not for attribution" mean in your publication.

Vulnerable Subjects

When interviewing trauma survivors, children, or people in crisis, extra care is required:

• Ensure they understand how interview will be used
• Give them control where possible (timing, location, ability to pause)
• Don't re-traumatize for narrative effect
• Consider whether their participation serves their interests or just your story

Power Imbalance

You have power as journalist to shape how someone is portrayed. Use it responsibly. Don't make subjects look foolish through selective quotes or unfair context. But don't sanitize either—accountability journalism requires honest portrayal.

Key Takeaways

Preparation shows respect and enables better interviews. Research thoroughly to understand subject and identify information gaps. Prepare tiered questions but hold them lightly. Technical preparation prevents technical failures. Strategic preparation enables deeper conversation. Show up ready to have best conversation of subject's week.

Build authentic rapport through genuine interest, not manipulation. Start with easy questions and build trust. Show you've done homework. React naturally to what they share. Embrace silence after important questions. Respect boundaries while pursuing truth. People reveal themselves to journalists who see them as humans, not just sources.

Ask strategic questions that elicit revealing answers. Use open-ended questions for storytelling and context. Use specific questions for precision and details. Use challenging questions sparingly and when necessary. Master follow-ups that push beyond surface responses. Ask killer questions that invite subjects to share what media usually misses.

Listen actively for what's not being said. Note evasions, contradictions, and gaps in narrative. Watch body language for comfort and discomfort. Hear absences and unspoken emotions. The subtext often reveals more than spoken text—train yourself to perceive both simultaneously.

Write profiles that capture voice and personality through specific details, characteristic gestures, revealing dialogue, and observed moments. Show character through actions and speech patterns, not just descriptive adjectives. Let readers meet subjects as you met them—complex, contradictory, human.