Conducting an effective journalistic interview begins with background research and knowing your subject thoroughly. A good journalist knows ahead of time what he or she wants to get from the subject and has a prepared set of questions to ask aimed at uncovering the information he or she wants. Of paramount importance is knowing the type of story you want to write (expose, biographical, investigative) and shaping your questions to produce the results you need to write that story.
Avoid asking questions that you can answer yourself with a little research. Ask direct questions that go to the heart of what you want to uncover. Many journalistic interviews take place under time constraints or in group situations where many reporters are firing off questions. Make your questions and time slot count.
When interviewing several people concerning one subject, keep in mind that the questions should be directed toward each individual and the information that person can provide.
Avoid asking questions that can be answered "yes" or "no" unless you are seeking that type of answer. To get the best quotes, you want your subject to elaborate on the topic, injecting his or her personal knowledge and information into the interview. Open-ended questions often begin with phrases such as "Tell me about," or "What is your opinion of."
Being persistent is a crucial part of conducting a successful journalistic interview, especially in the case of a hostile subject. You may need to phrase the same question several different ways to get the information you need for your story. If your interview subject refuses to answer a question, continue the line of questioning until you get the answer.