Quick Thinkers

Journalists have incredibly fast minds. They’ll ask you a question, be taking notes all the while thinking about the next piece of information they want from you. This is an asset and a specific necessity in the world of newspapers when you often have to source your story, write and file it for publication the same day.

Often when I go to interview someone, I know what their answers to my questions are going to be but I ask them to get it in their words. Their words will form the life of my story.

In the past I’d sometimes hear what was probably minor irritation in the voice of my subject at the obviousness of my question. But I’ve moved on from that and I don't hear it anymore. No question is stupid. I am not asking it for me – I’m asking it for the story, which I would not be able to write without the obvious vital information.

We were taught very early on in our training to develop skills not unlike a detective. Learn to read things upside down, and to read people’s faces and body language. How does our interviewee look? Tired? Well? Run down? Pregnant? (!) Are they shy, being honest or suspect? It's not always easy to get this over the phone but we get what we can.

Either way, all of it has to be got really quickly. This fast pace, fresh immediacy and realness, is part of why we love doing it.