Laufer

and SOJC Faculty release Interviewing: The Oregon Method

Written by Jessica Hales

It all started when Peter Laufer, who was preparing to teach his first interviewing
course at the University of Oregons School of Journalism and Communication
(SOJC), sat down for coffee with long-time mentor and interview extraordinaire Ken
Metzler for advice. Laufer, who designed his interview course around Metzlers book
Creative Interviewing, asked Metzler to sign his tattered copy. Metzler agreed to do
so but not before saying, My book is dated, insinuating a new interview book was
in dire need. Soon after their meeting, Ken Metzler unfortunately passed away.

In inspiration of Metzler and his creative, timeless interviewing concepts, current
University of Oregons James Wallace Chair, Professor Peter Laufer, and 30 faculty
and friends of the UO SOJC have taken it upon themselves to create a new, updated
interviewing book titled Interviewing: The Oregon Method.

Laufer, serving as the books editor, compiles 28 chapters of
interviewing analysis and instruction from SOJC
professors, who are experts in their field. Each chapter is
filled with years of experience focusing on interview
ethics, the sanctity of quotes, sourcing via social media,
studies of interviewing in the virtual world, negotiating
identity and building rapport.

There is not another book like this. It is a primer for the
digital age that embraces age-old lessons that make
clear the crucial importance of interview skills and
how to learn them, said Laufer.

Editor of the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Willamette Week, Mark Zusman, raves about the
contents of the book. There is no more important
skill for reporters to have than a knack for
interviewing. For a very, very small number of us, it comes naturally. For the rest of
us, we now have Interviewing: The Oregon Method, a crash course from a cast of
experts.

While interviewing is a crucial skill for journalists, the list of professions that use
interviews to conduct day-to-day business is limitless. While most college students
associate the word interview with the daunting hiring process come graduation,
the reality is just about every human interaction is a form of interview.

An interview really is an entre to the soul. Anyone interested in the art of
interviewing is going to take away from this book, in entertainment and information
from extraordinary expertise, said Laufer.
Editor Peter Laufer


All the books contributors worked pro bono. All
proceeds will go toward providing scholarships for
students particularly interested in studying
interviewing at the UO SOJC in future years.

Contributors include Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter
and UO Professor, Alex Tizon, retired Seattle Times
executive editor and UO alumnus, Mike Fancher,
former managing editor of The Oregonian, Jack Hart,
and former dean of the UO SOJC, Tim Gleason, just to
name a few.

The book can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, or the Oregon State University Press.