Includes bibliographical references.

Interviewing is the single most important way journalists (and others) get information. Yet to many, the perfect interview feels more like luck than skill- a rare confluence of rapport, topic, and timing. But the thing is, great interviews aren't the result of serendipity and intuition, but rather the result of careful planning and good journalistic habits. Drawn on forty years of award-winning journalism, Dean Nelson walks readers through each step of the journey, from deciding whom to interview and structuring questions to the nitty gritty of using a recording device and effective note-taking strategies, to the ethical dilemmas of interviewing people you love (and Loathe). He also includes case studies of famous interviews to show readers how these principles play out in real time. --taken from back cover