Interviewing+People+for+Articles

As you are conducting your research you will often have to interview people.

Here are some guidelines and helpful advice: 1. Schedule an interview date and time beforehand (if you can't find the person at school, email them.) 2. Write up a list of questions you'd like to ask prior to the interview. 2. Talk to the person you are interviewing very politely, and be very attentive during the interview. 3. If possible, during the interview take a recorder with you (iPhone works.) 4. While interviewing, tweak your questions to fit the topic your are discussing at the moment. 5. After you have written your article, make sure to get it checked by the person you interviewed.

Examples of editorials from The International:

//**Interview: Refugees International Japan**// //**Alumna Kanako Kashima (‘07) talks about her career after ISSH, the lessons she has learned, and getting involved**// //**by Sanskriti xxxx (12)**//
 * //2012 June Edition://**

//What is RIJ?// //Refugees International Japan (RIJ) is an organization dedicated to raising funds to assist refugees who have been displaced as a result of war and conflict. Operating out of Tokyo, this organization is staffed by volunteers from the Japanese and international communities. It channels project funds through experienced organizations already working with refugees out in the field, ensuring that assistance goes quickly and directly to where it is most needed. RIJ provides hope to refugees by funding projects that rebuild lives and restore human dignity in a sustainable and community-oriented way. It operates so that you can see for yourself exactly where, when, and how your donation is making a difference.//

//Why did you decide to intern for RIJ?// //A biography on Sadako Ogata, a Japanese woman, who acted as the High Commissioner for UNHCR in the 1990s initiated my interest to volunteer for RIJ. She attended the University of the Sacred Heart, so not only did I feel close to her, but I was also inspired by the tremendous work she accomplished for refugees. I found RIJ after conducting some research, and was particularly interested because it is a small, non-profit, non-governmental organization. Because of its size, it boasts great accountability and efficiency, which large organizations can sometimes lack. I was also very interested in working in a tight-knit organization that could give me a hands-on working experience, and RIJ gave me that chance.//

//What is the most vital lesson you discovered through RIJ?// //I learned through my experience at RIJ that refugees want to return home. Many people assume that after experiencing life-threatening discrimination and war in their home countries, refugees would rather build a new life in their adopted countries than return home. It is in fact quite the opposite: The majority of refugees seek to return and to rebuild their lives and their communities. RIJ seeks to facilitate that road back to their home countries by providing them with basic necessities, such as food, shelter, medicine, and basic skills and education.//

//What made you want to be involved in community service, and were you in the Social Service Council (SSC) in ISSH?// //I was actually a part of the Academic Council, not SSC. But the involvement I had in other extracurriculars opened my eyes to the fact that, however small a project, action on my part can result in contributing to the community.// //ISSH used to have a great program where a dozen or so juniors and seniors were picked and had the privilege of going to the Pattaya Orphanage in Thailand. In the orphanage we played with children and were directly involved with social service; it was a profound experience for me, and also the place where I started to seriously question the social, cultural, economic, and political reasons behind why orphanages were so prevalent in this part of Thailand and whether there was anything I could do about it. This unique experience along with the International Relations class with Mr. Felstehausen sparked my interest in social service and international affairs.// //In what ways did you contribute in RIJ?// //I developed the RIJ Student Leadership Program, which encourages student involvement and peer-to-peer learning about global refugee issues and promotes discussion about what students can do in order to help. This includes giving presentations to high school classes that were interested in human rights and refugee issues. Furthermore, I also research corporate social responsibility-- namely, how corporations can give back to the community through RIJ.//

//Any pointers for ISSH students?// //I’d say take initiative. If you see something worth improving or helping, do something about it rather than waiting for somebody else to do it.//