Writing - Journalism Topic Questions

In this article I'm am going to give some brief tips based on my own experience, so you know this advice is going to be genuine and not just things people have dictated from a textbook, so I believe this will be of value to someone.

After recently constructing my own website which covers information regarding subcultures in my home city, I decided to contact one girl who is a friend of a friend, we've met briefly and I knew from past experiences that she not reliable. I knew she was involved in numerous ventures such as a hairstyling website which offered unique hair extensions and dreads and that she had also been selling custom corsets for nightclubbing.

Regardless that she didn't reply to my email, I thought I would use these questions because I know they are good ones and it means I gained something from writing them if I show you why I chose and worded them this way. In a way it also adds more depth to this article because I can mention that when you are a journalist, you will learn not to take things personal...I know my website offers something valuable and I have more important people than her starring on it at the moment(A local scratch DJ who appears on a radio station, local artists and a good looking female singer!)

Anyhow, I visited her website and sent her an email via the contact form, maybe her business is quiet and this why she didn't reply but I digress.. here is what I wrote:

Dear Allie,

It's Richard(Melissa Lucas's friend) I'm in the process of building a website over the next few day's which will be completed by Wednesday night hopefully. It's called 'www.newportculture.com', I've already bought the domain name and it's going to include articles on music, art and I have interviews arranged with a top DJs I know from BrapFM and it's all about talent from South Wales. I was wondering if I could include a small piece about your unique hairstyling because I think it's really cool, plus it's free promotion for you. I have already got a site which receives 2500 views a week, so I think that will bring you a few more customers.

I have prepared a few questions below and I think Mel has a couple of photograph's of you, maybe I could put one on the article so people know who's doing the hairstyling:

1. With your dread lock extensions, who would you say requests them most, guys or girls? I have wanted them since seeing band's I like have them so I think it's good for guys to know about your services.
2. I notice on your front page you mention that you use 'Elyee Star Dreadlocks', this is a quality brand so how do you make a profit? do you order in bulk from an independent supplier?
3. What would you say the most popular colour dread and extensions are at present? I've noticed the neon red quite often when I'm in a club.
4. I also noticed you do transitional, harlequin and blended dreads, I imagine this requires great concentration, time and you want to perfect it, so I guess this is when it becomes like an art form, would you agree?
5. With natural dreads i know special shampoo's can be bought, do you offer any such products for the extensions, or would you recommend just removing them every 12 weeks?
6. In regards to the above question, are you available to perform the removal and re-implementation for customers?
7. I notice you offer a large selection of different length dreads and extentions, do many people go for different length or do you think people should be made aware that you offer these services?
8. As a follow-on from the previous question i would like to add that i personally think it is great that you provide this variety of styles and colours because it can be a great lift to somebodies mood and confidence after having a hair-do, would you agree?
9. One section of your site offers top hat's which you produce personally, where do you get your inspiration for such designs?
10. I have also heard you offered services for people requiring corsets, do you still run this business or have advice for people looking to purchase one? I imagine you already have a lot on your plate with just the hairstyling alone.

As you can see, I have been very concise with the flow of my questions, some relate to the previous one's, this way you establish a flow so it becomes more of a relaxed conversation. With this in mind, you can cover a lot with only 10 questions and you know the interview should only last between 20-30 minutes depending on how generous the interviewee is with their time. Remember, the person you are questioning is probably happy that you are showing an interest in what they are doing, depending on what type of person you have chosen so don't feel as though you are bothering them. You have to persist to get the information you require, you can always edit and present this in a impressive manner later on, just remember to prepare well before hand because this will help you get the most of the short time you may receive.

Try and generate questions that your interviewee has not recieved before, they will respect this and will feel abliged to answer them because they have been put to the test, but try not to ask ones which may cause offence or show lack of respect for the persons accomplishments. We are not here to gain quick attention for slandering peoples image. You can see that the all the questions I have asked were unique and show that I took time to research the site, I have show a genuine interest and leaves the reader of your article with valuable information which they may recommend to others.

I hope this article has been of use to some people, I am not claiming to be an expert I am just throwing my 25 cense in(that's what you American's say isn't it?). I know I have some skills in this area because my qualifications as a graphic design graduate have taught my methods of communication and I have presented my questions to give people inspiration and to view the examples.