3.3 Who do you speak to first?

A wide range of people are suitable for pre-interviews. Journalists who have covered similar stories are one possibility. Within the science community, you may not want to speak to the most senior scientist in a pre-interview. They may be very busy. They may object to having their time wasted by a reporter who doesn't understand the subject.

Try the secretary of the most senior scientist instead: administrative officers often have a good grasp of issues, and can also suggest who might make the most interesting interview. Sometimes they can even tip you off about upcoming stories.

Post-graduates studying for their master's and doctoral degrees can be hard to track down by phone but are often hanging around science departments and are a good source of information. If one of them is particularly articulate, you may want to consider him or her for a formal interview. Young students sometimes make for better television than their older counterparts. At the same time, you may need to find diplomatic ways to explain to the most senior scientists why you are not concentrating on them; they often have the power to block your access to their colleagues. Emphasising that you know how busy they are or how important it is to present a diversity of views may be a good technique.

Now, in the early stages of the story, is a good time to ask for images. A good-quality picture or drawing can greatly aid your own understanding; ease your way into the interview by allowing you to ask the scientist something along the lines of "We're looking at a picture of what here?"; and may eventually be used to illustrate your final story. And sometimes, asking for pictures helps the person being interviewed understand the distinction between peer communication and mass communication. But check that the public relations people or scientists haven't infringed any copyright laws in giving you visuals and ensure that any photographer, cameraperson or artist is properly credited for their work.


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