Interviewing Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) is an essential skill for technical communicators. In this talk, we will discuss tips and tricks for all three stages of an interview – before (prepare), during (conduct), and after (polish). We’ll cover how to use the principles of both journalism and technical communication for a successful and productive interview. Among the topics to be discussed are: research techniques (for both the subject and the SME), writing meaningful questions, logistics, listening skills, following up, and incorporating/expanding on the content.
