Cup of Tea Convo

Traveling to a community to cover a story is one of the most exciting and rewarding things that I do in my work. I love new places, new faces, and new perspectives. Sometimes it’s the first time I’ll be stepping into a particular community and in just as many cases, it’s the first time I’ll be meeting my interviewees or story contacts in person. 

It’s almost always the case that I’ll have a limited amount of time to do my reporting, so spending my time strategically is a must. That isn’t to say, however, that I should launch immediately into “reporter mode” the moment I arrive, which might seem counterintuitive at first, but stay with me. 

Generally, the best interviews are conducted between two people who share a mutual interest and respect for each other. In order to earn that respect, I need to first give it. There are countless ways to achieve this, of course, but I think a relaxed conversation with a warm beverage and no recorders is an excellent start. In any interview, a power dynamic is established between the interviewer and interviewee, so giving both parties a chance to speak on equal terms prior to can help convey that respect. 

The “cup of tea” conversation can be a powerful way to break down barriers and plant the seeds of trust. It centers the value on the individual, not just the story they have to tell me. It can transform the interaction from a transaction of information to a conversation between friends. Working on a tight schedule, it can feel that taking additional steps such as this will only complicate the process and distract from the task at hand, and I understand that anxiety. 

However, consider the investment being made here. Nobody interviews well with their guard up, and most people won’t go into conversations with strangers wearing their whole heart on their sleeve - that privilege is left to trusted individuals. Additionally, what about after the interview is done? Is the story also done? How do you know that for sure? When we take the time to initiate a real conversation and to form a real relationship with our interviewees, they may be inclined to follow up on their story later, or to provide more story leads in the future. By making time and space to lead with humanity and not business, we invest in the stories we are telling. 

Too often the pressure to capture recordings to meet a looming deadline is the focus of our work. Too often are we rushing from one location to the next, not taking enough time to appreciate what is in front of us. When we leave behind our cameras, our recorders, and our softlights, we begin to see our interviewees as fellow people, humans looking not to recite a story for the benefit of a stranger, but looking to make an authentic connection with us, with another human being. In my experience, you’ll make friends a lot faster if the first thing you put in front of your interviewees is a hot cup of tea, not a microphone.