Should journalists conduct e-mail interviews?
Many journalists like e-mail interviews because they're easy, they save time and they allow reporters to connect with sources who are busy or far away. But some news outlets are starting to view this reporting tactic as a cop-out.
The Stanford Daily and the Daily Princetonian banned e-mail interviews because they believe journalists use them as a crutch, depriving readers of a potentially more dynamic story.
For the Daily Princetonian, email interviews have "resulted in stories filled with stilted, manicured quotes that often hide any real meaning and make it extremely difficult for reporters to ask follow-up questions or build relationships with sources,” wrote editor-in-chief Henry Rome in an editorial.
Most journalists agree that e-mailing sources for simple requests like checking facts or statements is acceptable and necessary. But should journalists draw the line when in-person or Skype interviews could produce a more candid and sincere story?
What do you think? Should journalists conduct interviews by e-mail?
Image CC-licensed on Flickr via Micky.!.
Plus/minus of email interviews.
I've had to conduct a few email interviews, for varying reasons (time zone, etc..). The first was a complete disaster - as you mention, 'quotable' phrases, a load of corporate empty-speak. At the other extreme, a great experience with the coordinator of the anti-piracy mission EU NAVFOR: I was given full and detailed answers to all my questions, with links, references to authorisation, photo sources, etc.. Plus, the writing came over as warm and informal, a conversation, in fact.
So, my own limited experience is that it principally depends (as always) on the interviewee - as well as having prepared a coherent, flowing set of questions in the first place. (No chance to divert the line of questioning, as in a live interview.)
A mixed blessing, in other words (nothing new, there). But definitely worth pursuing as a means to get the story.
In the end, only one weapon in the armoury! Use when you think it's the most relevant one.
Preferably not, although
Preferably not, although there are and will be times when subjects will speak to you only via email. Many of these guys tend to be public relations companies or large multi-nationals, which unless you have a direct line, will give you sanitised quotes. Avoid whenever possible.
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