What steps should you take to prepare for an interview with a source?

• A. Research background, formulate questions, prepare open-ended prompts, verify facts, obtain permission to record, and plan for sensitive topics
• B. Show up unprepared
• C. Only read the subject's social media
• D. Record without permission

Answer: (A)

Preparing for an interview with a source focuses on thorough planning that builds trust, accuracy, and fairness. Start by researching the source's background, current role, and relevant history to understand perspective and avoid misinterpretation. Then craft questions that align with the story’s goals, including open-ended prompts that encourage detailed, nuanced responses rather than simple yes-or-no answers. Verifying key facts from reliable sources is essential to prevent errors and to be able to clarify or challenge statements when needed. Obtaining permission to record upfront is both ethical and practical, setting clear expectations and protecting you from later disputes. Planning for sensitive topics helps you address controversial or personal areas with care, including having alternatives if the source prefers not to discuss certain points.

Those other approaches miss important elements: showing up without preparation leads to shallow or unfocused conversations; relying only on social media provides a narrow, potentially biased view and lacks corroboration; recording without permission violates ethics and may have legal consequences.