Do you know how to talk to people?
Of course, you say. I do it every day.
Yes, but do you REALLY know how to talk to people? Do you know how to listen? How to ask questions? How to follow up those questions with other questions?
This reporter's feature story, "AIDS in the Heartland," which won the Pulitzer for feature writing in 1988, is still held up as an example of in-depth, immersive reporting and extensive interviewing.
Take note of her graphic illustration on "How to find sources for your stories."
This is chapter 17 of a 3-volume online manual which "is structured to help you build your skills in a logical and natural way." The focus in this chapter in on "telephone interviews, their advantages but also traps to be wary of."
The News Manual was first published as a three-volume book with assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and was aimed initially at journalists working in developing countries. This updated online edition is offered to anyone seeking a straightforward, no-nonsense journalism guide written in plain English.