Interview articles are an important way for magazines to highlight the opinions and expertise of a wide range of people, from celebrities to experts. They can be written as whole conversations or as a series of excerpts and direct quotes. In the article, the interviewee is asked questions by a journalist about their views on a particular subject and gives thoughtful answers. They may also be asked questions about their background, their work and their opinions on other topics of interest.
An exclusive interview is one that a publication grants to an individual before publishing with any other media outlet. Journalists will only grant an exclusive if they believe the story to be newsworthy and relevant to their readership. It’s normally granted when the person is an industry insider or has a newsworthy announcement.
While there’s debate among publicists and journalists on the weight of an exclusive, it can be helpful for both parties to secure one. For staff writers who have a quota to fill on slow newsweeks and freelancers paid by commission, a well-executed exclusive can elevate an announcement beyond “industry updates” into breaking news.
Shelbie Watts is the Content Marketing Manager at Homebase, the everything app for hourly teams. 100,000+ small (but mighty) businesses trust Homebase for employee scheduling, time clocks, payroll, team communication and HR. Shelbie also leads the company’s inclusive interview practices. She believes that using scorecards and diverse panels during interviews helps to identify unconscious bias and encourages candidates who might not be given as much of a chance elsewhere to shine.