Pay attention on little things. Get interview with children

Equipment

During the interview for radio or television, equipment available you have determines your actions. Keep the effect of technology to a minimum; only if it does not prevent you get from children the good stuff. Explain its purpose, tell us what is required of them, and that you are going to do and why. Make sure that all behave in accordance with your instructions in the group. Children usually like to be photographed or recorded, and familiarity with the instrument is good for them. Take children as well as adults, not from above, and not from below but aligned by placing the camera at eye level.

Local traditions

For some people – for example, the Chechens – made to the children communicate with adults in a special way, showing them as a sign of respect for infinite reverence, sometimes purely formal. Follow these traditions, not to put children in an awkward position (or not to offend their parents). But in some cases it is necessary to ask whether it is possible for children to behave differently in time to interview for its success requires that children feel equal and respected members of society, and it is difficult, if they do not dare to open his mouth without permission, or do not have the right to sit in your presence.

Introduce each other

Take the time to do so. The clear simple terms, explain who you are, where profits that are doing and for what purpose. Show your newspaper or magazine article – it will serve as a kind of business card. Children will understand what you are doing and where possible, will put their interview. The photographer can show off your pictures. American photographer El Reed visited on behalf of the organization “Save the Children” South Africa carried with him everywhere a copy of his book on Black America. Featuring students placed in her photo and explaining their contents, he will have them to yourself.

Let the children to imagine. Each participant interviews, saying at the beginning of a few words about yourself will feel much more confident.

Explain that this interview

It is extremely important to explain to children what to expect – tell us how you want to work, what you want from them, what rules must be followed – not to interrupt the speaker, all carefully listen to, etc. Such frank “statement of intent” to help children relax and prevent possible misunderstandings. Ask, if they have any questions about whether all understand them. Children sometimes ask unexpected questions, from your point of view, irrelevant or are not related to what was said by you. Still treat them seriously.

Media interested in children and can cause extremely have unrealistic expectations that after the publication of results of the interview are replaced often disappointment and dismay. Tell the children how you intend to use the interview material, and what the probability that it will be published is.

Confidentiality and anonymity

Privacy – the cornerstone of communication with children. Ask the children if they wish to have their names were called. At the slightest doubt on this score, only call name or a fictitious name. We, adults, and do not suspect any risk often suffered by children, expressing a completely innocuous in our opinion the judgment.

Anonymity will allow children to discover the last innermost thoughts and feelings that they desperately want to make public. In the absence of anonymity, they are on it will not be solved. In addition, vice versa – some children prefer to be called by name. Journalists and social workers tend to use only the names of the children (often not even bothering to learn their names), which has several derogatory. So some of the white Americans drawn to his black compatriots, especially to located them in the service, – “Jim Gardener,” “cook, Gladys.” Is there a shred of respect for the people? If children have consented to the publication of their names, specify exactly how they want to be called: perhaps they prefer the familiar diminutive of his first name.

Through interviews with the photographer, find out whether the children objected to the publication of images. In addition, whether they wish to be photographed at all? Do not take it for granted. Do they want to in the caption under the photograph were their names? First, explain what the purpose of these photos is.

Home is your concern – the safety of children. They happen to be glad photographed, but you know that they are minor offenders, fugitives, potential victims of violence in all its forms, not going to name names, and taking a picture of them in the shade or with the face covered with a hand or a piece of clothing to be it was impossible to identify the …

However, confidentiality is not an immutable law. For example, a child talks about the violence against him or someone else’s intentions related to serious damage to him or to another; you must report it to the relevant administrative authorities – the bodies of internal affairs, and guardianship. It is better to do it with the knowledge and consent of the child. If during the interview revealed something like this, explain to children what the consequences may be for them the tradition of these facts public. Be very honest with the children (see. “Very intimate themes”). If during the interview, surfaced unexpected facts and you imagine the consequences of bad publicity of their contact with civil society organizations, can shed light on it, and then, if possible, re-discuss with the children the problem of confidentiality.

To start, try to get close to children

For the majority of children interviewed – it is the unknown, and in anticipation of it, they usually worry. To appease them, try to get to know them better. It is not easy – the children are all different to each child, and even more so to a group of children, requires a special approach. And time.

To begin set aside notepad, a voice recorder and other equipment as long as they will not be required. Forget about them for a while, but listen attentively and try to understand the words of children. Ice alienation good hack common games, songs, dances. Not bad also offer children to draw something relevant to their lives.

However, has no pressure – just be open and frank. Children will feel insincere, and if you lose confidence, do not open their souls. The notes of condescension in your voice, absurd proposals that do not meet this age group, at the initial stage can ruin your interview. You cannot figure out what to do? Ask them. Do not be ashamed to show his weakness. They are willing to come to the rescue.

Using the equipment, explain to the children what it is and what its purpose is. Let them utter something in the microphone, look in the camera’s viewfinder, make sure you capture words.