Interviews are an essential part when preparing to write a press release. Information that is accurately represented can strengthen the credibility of the writer. Unfortunately, you can’t just immediately reach out to the source though. There is background research that needs to be conducted before getting in contact with an interviewee. It is important to be knowledgeable about the person you are interviewing. Becoming an expert can include: looking into their place of work, what is written about them or their company, what they do and have done in the past and even their social media can help you as the interviewer, be better prepared when developing directed questions.
Once you’ve completed the research and feel well informed on the source, it is then time to conduct the interview. No matter who the person is, you should always treat them with respect and come in with professionalism. The questions should be open-ended, allowing them to answer open and honestly. These questions should be prepared in advance and should be aimed at getting the correct information for the press release. It is important to be purposeful and recognize the interviewee’s time. As the interviewer, it is important to be an active listener, while also being one to observe body language, being flexible with questions if the source seems uncomfortable.
Lastly, scheduling can become difficult. In that case, you would resort to asking questions over email. Typically, five to seven questions is a good number. You don’t want to overwhelm the person to the point where they don’t respond. These questions should be direct, clear to understand with everyday language and ordered from most to least important. As the interviewer, you should introduce yourself and why you are coming to them, then give a deadline for a response.
Here is an example of an email:
Hello (name),
My name is Jorie Gabriele. I am a junior at Olivet Nazarene University, studying public relations and strategic communication. I am currently in a PR writing class and we are writing a story on (topic). I am curious if you would be interested in answering a few questions for an upcoming press release.
Below are a few questions, feel free to answer whatever you feel comfortable with. If possible, I would appreciate a response by March 1, 2026.
(Questions one through five to seven)
Thank you for your willingness and time.
Respectfully,
Jorie Gabriele
As a college student, conducting background research, an effective and worthwhile interview and learning how to best communicate over email, will help gather accurate information to write a credible press release.
