interview-prep

Name: interview-prep
Author: jamditis

139installs57forks

How to install interview-prep?

jamditis/claude-skills-journalism/interview-prep

$npx -y skills add jamditis/claude-skills-journalism --skill interview-prep

Installs into the current project.

Summary

Prepare for journalism interviews with research checklists, question frameworks, and attribution guidelines. Use when preparing to interview sources, planning follow-up questions, or managing interview logistics. Covers consent, recording laws, and professional protocols.

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SKILL.md

1	# Interview preparation
2
3	Interviews fail in the preparation, not the conversation. This skill covers pre-interview research, question design, logistics, and follow-up.
4
5	## When to use
6
7	- Preparing to interview a source
8	- Developing question frameworks for recurring interview types
9	- Managing interview logistics and consent
10	- Planning follow-up after initial interviews
11	- Training new reporters on interview technique
12
13	## Pre-interview research checklist
14
15	### Background research
16
17	```markdown
18	## Source background check
19
20	### Public records
21	- [ ] Professional licenses verified
22	- [ ] Court records checked (civil/criminal)
23	- [ ] Business registrations confirmed
24	- [ ] Property records (if relevant)
25	- [ ] Campaign finance (if political figure)
26	- [ ] SEC filings (if corporate)
27
28	### Professional background
29	- [ ] LinkedIn profile reviewed
30	- [ ] Current employer confirmed
31	- [ ] Previous employers noted
32	- [ ] Published work reviewed
33	- [ ] Conference appearances checked
34	- [ ] Professional associations
35
36	### Social media audit
37	- [ ] All platforms identified (X, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Substack, etc.)
38	- [ ] Post history reviewed
39	- [ ] Connections/followers analyzed
40	- [ ] Previous statements on topic found
41	- [ ] Any deleted content recovered? (See web-archiving skill for Wayback / Archive.today retrieval)
42
43	### Media appearances
44	- [ ] Previous interviews found
45	- [ ] Statements consistent with current position?
46	- [ ] Other journalists' assessments
47	- [ ] Any retractions or corrections involving them?
48	```
49
50	### Context research
51
52	```markdown
53	## Topic preparation
54
55	### Essential knowledge
56	- [ ] Key facts about the topic confirmed
57	- [ ] Timeline of events established
58	- [ ] Other stakeholders identified
59	- [ ] Conflicting accounts noted
60	- [ ] Documents/data reviewed
61
62	### What to know before you dial
63	- [ ] How do they fit into the story?
64	- [ ] What do I NEED from this interview?
65	- [ ] What might they be reluctant to discuss?
66	- [ ] What have they said publicly before?
67	```
68
69	## Question framework
70
71	### The essential questions
72
73	Every interview should be built to answer:
74	1. What happened? (Facts)
75	2. Why did it happen? (Causes)
76	3. What did you do/decide/see? (Actions)
77	4. What does it mean? (Significance)
78	5. What's next? (Implications)
79
80	### Question types
81
82	\| Type \| Purpose \| Example \|
83	\|------\|---------\|---------\|
84	\| Open-ended \| Get the full story \| "Walk me through what happened that day." \|
85	\| Clarifying \| Pin down details \| "When you say 'soon after,' do you mean minutes or hours?" \|
86	\| Probing \| Go deeper \| "Why do you think that happened?" \|
87	\| Follow-up \| Catch inconsistencies \| "Earlier you said X, but now you mentioned Y. Help me understand." \|
88	\| Confrontational \| Challenge statements \| "Documents show [fact]. How do you respond?" \|
89	\| Closing \| Ensure completeness \| "Is there anything I didn't ask that you think I should know?" \|
90
91	### Question templates by interview type
92
93	Profile interview:
94	```markdown
95	1. Background: "Tell me about where you grew up / how you got started."
96	2. Turning point: "When did you realize [X] was your path?"
97	3. Challenge: "What was the hardest moment in [period]?"
98	4. Values: "What principle guides your work?"
99	5. Future: "What are you working on next?"
100	```
101
102	Investigative interview:
103	```markdown
104	1. Establish rapport: Non-threatening background questions first
105	2. Timeline: "Walk me through [event] from the beginning."
106	3. Details: "Who else was there? What did you see/hear?"
107	4. Documentation: "Do you have any records of this?"
108	5. Corroboration: "Who else can confirm this?"
109	6. Response: "What did [other party] say when you raised this?"
110	```
111
112	Expert/explainer interview:
113	```markdown
114	1. Credentials: "What's your expertise in this area?"
115	2. Plain language: "Explain [concept] as if I'm not a specialist."
116	3. Context: "How common/unusual is [situation]?"
117	4. Significance: "Why does this matter?"
118	5. Sources: "Where can I learn more? Who else should I talk to?"
119	```
120
121	Victim/sensitive interview:
122	```markdown
123	1. Control: "Take your time. You can stop at any point."
124	2. Open: "Tell me what you're comfortable sharing."
125	3. Specific: "Can you describe [specific detail]?"
126	4. Impact: "How has this affected you?"
127	5. Agency: "What do you want people to understand?"
128	6. Check-in: "Are you okay to continue?"
129	```
130
131	## Recording and consent
132
133	### Recording laws by state
134
135	State recording-consent law is jurisdiction-specific and shifts. Some states distinguish telephone from in-person recording; others treat electronic communications under a separate statute; case law in several states (e.g., Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut) ha

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6 picks

Type

interview-prep

139installs57forks

View on GitHub

How to install interview-prep?

jamditis/claude-skills-journalism/interview-prep

$npx -y skills add jamditis/claude-skills-journalism --skill interview-prep

Installs into the current project.

Summary

Files · 1

View on GitHub

SKILL.md

1	# Interview preparation
2
3	Interviews fail in the preparation, not the conversation. This skill covers pre-interview research, question design, logistics, and follow-up.
4
5	## When to use
6
7	- Preparing to interview a source
8	- Developing question frameworks for recurring interview types
9	- Managing interview logistics and consent
10	- Planning follow-up after initial interviews
11	- Training new reporters on interview technique
12
13	## Pre-interview research checklist
14
15	### Background research
16
17	```markdown
18	## Source background check
19
20	### Public records
21	- [ ] Professional licenses verified
22	- [ ] Court records checked (civil/criminal)
23	- [ ] Business registrations confirmed
24	- [ ] Property records (if relevant)
25	- [ ] Campaign finance (if political figure)
26	- [ ] SEC filings (if corporate)
27
28	### Professional background
29	- [ ] LinkedIn profile reviewed
30	- [ ] Current employer confirmed
31	- [ ] Previous employers noted
32	- [ ] Published work reviewed
33	- [ ] Conference appearances checked
34	- [ ] Professional associations
35
36	### Social media audit
37	- [ ] All platforms identified (X, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Substack, etc.)
38	- [ ] Post history reviewed
39	- [ ] Connections/followers analyzed
40	- [ ] Previous statements on topic found
41	- [ ] Any deleted content recovered? (See web-archiving skill for Wayback / Archive.today retrieval)
42
43	### Media appearances
44	- [ ] Previous interviews found
45	- [ ] Statements consistent with current position?
46	- [ ] Other journalists' assessments
47	- [ ] Any retractions or corrections involving them?
48	```
49
50	### Context research
51
52	```markdown
53	## Topic preparation
54
55	### Essential knowledge
56	- [ ] Key facts about the topic confirmed
57	- [ ] Timeline of events established
58	- [ ] Other stakeholders identified
59	- [ ] Conflicting accounts noted
60	- [ ] Documents/data reviewed
61
62	### What to know before you dial
63	- [ ] How do they fit into the story?
64	- [ ] What do I NEED from this interview?
65	- [ ] What might they be reluctant to discuss?
66	- [ ] What have they said publicly before?
67	```
68
69	## Question framework
70
71	### The essential questions
72
73	Every interview should be built to answer:
74	1. What happened? (Facts)
75	2. Why did it happen? (Causes)
76	3. What did you do/decide/see? (Actions)
77	4. What does it mean? (Significance)
78	5. What's next? (Implications)
79
80	### Question types
81
82	\| Type \| Purpose \| Example \|
83	\|------\|---------\|---------\|
84	\| Open-ended \| Get the full story \| "Walk me through what happened that day." \|
85	\| Clarifying \| Pin down details \| "When you say 'soon after,' do you mean minutes or hours?" \|
86	\| Probing \| Go deeper \| "Why do you think that happened?" \|
87	\| Follow-up \| Catch inconsistencies \| "Earlier you said X, but now you mentioned Y. Help me understand." \|
88	\| Confrontational \| Challenge statements \| "Documents show [fact]. How do you respond?" \|
89	\| Closing \| Ensure completeness \| "Is there anything I didn't ask that you think I should know?" \|
90
91	### Question templates by interview type
92
93	Profile interview:
94	```markdown
95	1. Background: "Tell me about where you grew up / how you got started."
96	2. Turning point: "When did you realize [X] was your path?"
97	3. Challenge: "What was the hardest moment in [period]?"
98	4. Values: "What principle guides your work?"
99	5. Future: "What are you working on next?"
100	```
101
102	Investigative interview:
103	```markdown
104	1. Establish rapport: Non-threatening background questions first
105	2. Timeline: "Walk me through [event] from the beginning."
106	3. Details: "Who else was there? What did you see/hear?"
107	4. Documentation: "Do you have any records of this?"
108	5. Corroboration: "Who else can confirm this?"
109	6. Response: "What did [other party] say when you raised this?"
110	```
111
112	Expert/explainer interview:
113	```markdown
114	1. Credentials: "What's your expertise in this area?"
115	2. Plain language: "Explain [concept] as if I'm not a specialist."
116	3. Context: "How common/unusual is [situation]?"
117	4. Significance: "Why does this matter?"
118	5. Sources: "Where can I learn more? Who else should I talk to?"
119	```
120
121	Victim/sensitive interview:
122	```markdown
123	1. Control: "Take your time. You can stop at any point."
124	2. Open: "Tell me what you're comfortable sharing."
125	3. Specific: "Can you describe [specific detail]?"
126	4. Impact: "How has this affected you?"
127	5. Agency: "What do you want people to understand?"
128	6. Check-in: "Are you okay to continue?"
129	```
130
131	## Recording and consent
132
133	### Recording laws by state
134
135	State recording-consent law is jurisdiction-specific and shifts. Some states distinguish telephone from in-person recording; others treat electronic communications under a separate statute; case law in several states (e.g., Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut) ha

People who liked this also viewed

6 picks

Type