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Guidelines for
journalism interviews
1. The interviewer must be mindful of the MEAA/AJA code of Ethics (see
this
link) and operate under that framework.
2. The interviewee should be 18 and over – parental or guardian permission
and supervision must be obtained in any other case.
3. The interviewee must be fully informed of what the interview is for
(subject/institution) and where, if anywhere, it is likely to be published.
If those circumstances change, permission must be granted by the interviewee
for their material to be used in the new forum.
4. It is advisable that interviews be recorded electronically. The interviewee
must be made aware of the recording. Recordings should be kept for a minimum
of a year after the article has been completed. If there is no electronic
recording, comprehensive notes (including date, participants and time)
should be made during the interview and kept for a year-plus.
5. The interviewee might ask to see the story before completion and publication.
You are advised against complying with this request – it is against
industry practice. However you may, and should, check complex ideas with
the source.
6. An interviewee may request anonymity and this must be honoured, if
agreed to. However you should exercise caution when dealing with anonymous
sources and, if you unsure, seek advice before entering into any such
agreement.
7. It is crucial that you double-check the name, title and position (if
appropriate) of the interviewee at the beginning of the interview –
no matter how obvious they might seem.
8. Remember that
what you publish can be subject to defamation law. (See our publishing
info page for links on this topic.)
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