21 Club – Writing interview questions The 21 Club is a method taught by Donna Manful in her highly effective journalism program at

Washington, Iowa. This program has produced many Iowa Student Journalists of the Year and other top awards in student journalism. You can have similar results by applying this method.

The master plan for any interview 1. What is your name and how do you spell that?

2.

3. Questions 2 – 5: Easy short, factual biographical information:

4. • Puts the interviewee at ease.

5. • Gives interviewer background information.

6. Transition question to introduce the subject of the interview.

7. Main idea question.

8.

9. Questions 8 – 14 : Factual information about the main idea. (5Ws & How)

10. • Get the facts.

11. • Get anecdotes.

12.

13.

14.

15. Questions 15 – 19: Thought questions:

16. • Analysis

17. • Reflection

18. • Explanation

19. • Advice

20. Is there anything else you’d like to add that we didn’t cover?

21. Thanks you very much for your help with the story. How can I best contact you if I need to check back about anything?

Sample interview questions – Tornado hits the town 1. What is your name and how do you spell that?

2. What grade are you in? or What position do you hold?

3. Where do you live?

4. How long have you lived there?

5. Please describe you family.

6. I understand that you witnessed the tornado that recently hit town; is that the first tornado you’ve experienced?

7. How did you first receive notice that there was a tornado in town?

8. What did you do when you received this information what safety precautions did you take?

9. How much advanced notice did you have before the tornado struck?

10. Where were you when the tornado struck?

11. Who was with you?

12. Please describe the tornado itself – what did you see, hear, feel, smell? What was the most unusual thing?

13. What injuries did you or your family incur?

14. Please describe your property damage.

15. What were the reactions of you, your family, neighbors to the damage in your neighborhood?

16. What do you think about the way the town reacted to the tornado and its damage?

17. How are you and your family coping with your losses?

18. What was the most important lesson you learned from surviving this tornado?

19. What advice do you have for other people when faced with life-altering situations?

20. is there anything else you’d like to add that we didn’t cover?

21. Thanks you very much for your help with the story. How can I best contact you if I need to check back about anything?