Person-on-the-Street Interviews
What are they?
Person-on-the-street interviews gather many brief responses from different people. Journalists use them when they want to understand the range of reactions and perspectives within a community – not one person’s full story.
Learn from Scene on Radio
Throughout Season 7, John, Ellen, and other reporters conduct person-on-the-street interviews to quickly gather a range of perspectives about capitalism and people’s economic lives.
Listen to the examples and notice:
- How do the reporters phrase their questions?
- How do they respond after someone answers?
- What do these interviews help reporters understand?
- What don’t these interviews help reporters understand? What questions do these interviews leave unanswered?
Example 1: Episode 2, 0:00-1:15
Example 2: Episode 4, 0:00-1:25
Example 3: Episode 6, 0:00-1:20
Example 4: Episode 8, 0:00-1:30
Learn from other interviewers and organizations
The resources below provide additional advice from experienced journalists about planning and conducting person-on-the-street interviews. As you watch, jot down tips and ideas you’d like to borrow for to plan, conduct, and record your own interviews.
Radio Rookies is a New York Public Radio initiative that provides teenagers with the tools and training to create radio stories about themselves, their communities and their world. Watch this 3 minute, 35 second video ➚ for tips from young reporters about conducting person-on-the-street interviews.
BBC Fresh Online is a space for new documentary talent, highlighting new and unheard voices and finding the filmmakers of the future. While this 2 min, 35 second video ➚ focuses on conducting person-on-the-street interviews for use in video documentaries, it offers helpful suggestions for anyone looking to improve their interview skills.
Principles of Strong Person-on-the-Street Interviews
The examples and resources suggest a few principles for what make person-on-the-street interviews strong.
Principle 1
Ask everyone the same 1 or 2 short, open-ended questions.
Strong questions are easy to understand, not too detailed, and invite people to share their thoughts rather than answer with a simple “yes” or “no.” For example, “How do you think capitalism started?” is more likely to spark conversation than “Do you know how capitalism started?”
Scene on Radio opens several episodes by asking people-on-the-street questions like these:
- Episode 2: When you hear the word capitalism, what comes to mind?
- Episode 4: How do you think capitalism started?
- Episode 6: The phrase “economic freedom.” What does that mean to you personally?
- Episode 8: How do you feel about your own future? Do you feel hopeful or confident that you’ll have a financially secure life?
Principle 2
Listen more than you talk.
Ask brief follow-up questions when needed, but give interview partners time to explain their thinking. Your goal is to understand their perspective – not to debate or persuade them.
Principle 3
Gather many different perspectives.
Choose a location where you’re likely to encounter a wide variety of people. The more different perspectives you hear, the more you’ll learn. Your school cafeteria, a local bus stop or library, or the food court at the mall are all good places to start.
Principle 4
Treat every interview partner respectfully.
Introduce yourself, explain your project, and ask whether they’re willing to participate. Respect their answer: some people will decline, and that’s okay. Don’t be deterred – just ask someone else.
Preparation Checklist
Ready to interview? Use this checklist 💻 📄 ➚ to guide your preparations.
Return to Interview Toolkit