Image from dreamstime.com/Alyssa Wells

A mother who just lost her husband. A 5th-grade spelling bee champ. A company's new CEO. All make good interviews, but each one requires a different interview approach. Some things are universal—if you make your source comfortable with you, they'll interview easier and probably give you better quotes. But emotional situations, time crunches or the legal implications of interviewing minors can make each interview a very different experience. Here are the elements of a successful interview.

Getting them comfortable
Learning how to read people will make you a better reporter. Some reporters see sources as mere quote generators and have horrible bedside manner. They might get the quote that time, but they'll gain a reputation as a pain-in-the-ass for the future. Always remember that you're talking to a person. Many people aren't used to talking to reporters and may be prejudiced against journalists or even your particular outlet.

Don't forget that people are busy. Some people get an ego boost when a reporter talks to them, but other folks might feel bothered. Start off with respect and warmth. "Hi, I'm Jason from the Herald-Tribune. Can I talk to you for just a second?" is pretty standard. Sometimes the best way to start an interview is by chatting them up first as a non-journalist. Keep your note pad out of sight and ask a few questions that a bystander might ask. Then ID yourself and whip out the pad. Some people might find this duplicitous, but I think as long as you don't take any quotes from before you've identified yourself you're OK.

If you have a lengthy interview, like in someone's office, use small talk first. Comment on items in the office. Mention a mutual friend or something about your day. Then, when you hit the "pause" of expectation (you’ll feel this), dive in.

Recording vs. note taking
Obviously you always want to record all your quotes perfectly, but there are times when it's not appropriate to record someone. You always need to ask someone if it's OK if you record them, which can make someone even more nervous, especially if they are under emotional duress.

For elected officials or anyone else in a crush of reporters (like outside a courthouse)—feel free to stick your recorder in their face as you yell out your questions. But most people get nervous when they see a recorder.

If the interviewee seems skittish or uncomfortable, ease them into it and don't whip out the recorder right away. Start off with some small talk. ID yourself, or get background info while they warm up. Two approaches I've used are either the casual "Oh, do you mind if I record?" or, with more assurance, "I'd like to record if you don't mind...." If people hesitate, tell them you want to make sure you don't make any mistakes when you quote them. Or, if appropriate, say "I want to make sure I make you look good," and smile. (However, you should always tread with caution when making promises about how the interviewee will be portrayed in your story.)

In my experience, the shorter the interview, the more likely you are to upset someone if you pop out a recorder. If you're meeting with someone in their office or at an agreed upon location, they know they are going to be interviewed and are more likely to be OK if they are recorded. Same with PR people.

Take notes while you are recording. Jot down time signatures of important quotes to save time, or write out the quotes so you don't need to review the recording. You can summarize and paraphrase right then so you don't need to listen to the whole tape again. Ideally, you should never need to do this—it takes far too long.

Use the recorder to augment your reporting - don't rely on it. Machines can fail or perform poorly, and if someone objects to being recorded, you're back to pen and paper.

ID the info you need
Besides your quotes, you need to identify your source, both to your readers and your editor. Standard ID info is: Full name (have them spell it if there's even the slightest chance they have an unusual spelling), phone number (for follow-ups), city of residence, and job. Asking for their age is usually a good idea, although there's a chance to offend women older than 30 or so by asking. For many stories the age is crucial, especially in crime stories or if the person is extremely old or young. Race is usually not relevant, and including it can be libelous if it has no bearing on the story.