Interview request
Who is asking, for what story, by when and in what format, what you decided, and the ground rules you agreed. One sheet per request.
The request sheet and the "What I asked" list are essential on a first pass: they hold the answers to Before you say yes and the decision you made. The ground-rules list is optional but takes a minute. Keep a home address, a private phone number and anything about a child out of the media kit, because you may share it.
The request
Essential on a first pass (Before you say yes). One request at a time; start a new browser profile or export and clear it for the next. Keep your home address and any child's details out of the kit.
What I asked
Essential on a first pass (Before you say yes). Tick each question once you have the answer, and write the answer in the column.
Ground rules
Optional on a first pass; the first line is our default (Before you say yes).
How to use this sheet
- One request at a time. The request sheet holds one interview. Export the media kit before you start a new request, and copy the outcome to the interview log.
- Record, do not conclude. Fields such as reporter, outlet and deadline hold what you were told. "How I checked who they are" and "Decision" hold what you did and decided.
- Stories read and review offered come from How a story gets made. Write what the reporter said they do, not what you hope they do.
Dana Ruiz (fictional) fills the sheet for Jen Albrecht of the fictional Miami Valley Courier: story "neighbors sharing instead of buying," deadline Thursday 5 p.m., format phone, decision "Yes" with Thursday 10 a.m. as the time. Open facts she writes down: whether a photographer comes on Saturday, and whether the paper will leave out her street address.
The sheet records what you asked and were told. It does not say whether an employer's policy, a contract or labor law lets you speak, whether a recording is lawful in your state, or what an outlet will do with your words. The organization's communications office, a lawyer or the reporter settles those.