Public Radio 101 Handbook

Always say you want to record the interview.  Do this when setting up the appointment and when you sit down with the interviewee.

Once the interview begins, listen for surprises.  If you're prepared, you shouldn't have to think about your next question.

Ask short questions.  Lengthy ones risk confusing your guest.

Avoid questions likely to result in one-word answers.  Ex: Do you plan to run for re-election?

So what’s the difference between a podcast and a radio show, besides where you listen to them?

1) Podcasts have no time constraints. They can go long, they can go short. No one tunes in in the middle of a podcast. No need for self-identifying constantly.

2) Podcasts don’t need to please everyone. They can, and should, target a very specific audience.

Find the key aspect of what you’re reporting on, and make that the focus of your radio spots.

Example: A candidate for governor will be meeting at the local farm bureau. The main element here is the substance of the meeting, not the meeting itself.

Get the Who, What, When, Where, and Why, and pare that down to the essentials.

Continuing from the previous example: Who is the candidate? What is he or she speaking about? When and where will it happen, and why is that candidate choosing to speak there?