by Geoff Hyatt
Have you ever considered beginning a news feature with a question? The answer, of course, comes in the second line. The next sentence summarizes the article’s main points.
“I’m providing an insightful quote about myself and/or the subject of the article,” says the Main Interviewee, doing something indicative of his/her personality or vocation, which perhaps also establishes the interview’s setting. “And then maybe I’ll provide an aside.”
The Main Interviewee has been involved with the article’s subject for a number of years. He/She got started somewhere, things happened, and now he/she is either still there or is somewhere else. It would be nice to draw some connection to the community of readers here.
“I know about local things,” says the Main Interviewee, with a facial expression. “I’m just a regular guy/gal, who has had certain experiences.”
The Main Interviewee has always known they would be involved with the subject of the article, or maybe it came as a total surprise. A certain formative experience in the past introduced them to the subject. They’ve seen quite a bit since then.
“Many things have changed over the years, but I never forgot a basic truth, which I will express here,” says the Main Interviewee.
A Secondary Interviewee, briefly introduced, says something here to validate or call into question the First Interviewee’s statements.
“I agree/disagree with the Main Interviewee,” says the Secondary Interviewee, “for the following reasons.”
Back to the Main Interviewee, who is in a setting connected to the feature’s subject. A significant element of this setting is described, and then the Main Interviewee physically interacts with it in a way that seems meaningful.
“This is my final quote in the feature,” says the Main Interviewee, perhaps with a gesture or facial expression. “It’s probably been presented out of its actual sequence to make it seem more resonant.”
