Work samples

FAQs

For the sake of transparency, clarity, and safety, here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get from people who are gracious enough to speak with me for stories. The purpose of this is not to discourage sources from asking these questions but to provide some visibility into my process and thinking.

We’re about to do an interview. Are we going on LIVE radio?

No! I never go LIVE on air with a source/ interviewee. If I’m pointing a microphone in your face, it’s because I’m recording our conversation to either 1) use the sound in a radio piece later or 2) to have an accurate record of our conversation. I will have a discussion with you about how the sound will be used before hitting the Record button.

Are you going to cut down/ edit the interview recording?

Almost definitely. I’ve never aired/ published an interview completely unedited. If speaking with you for a radio story I will select a few soundbites (00:05-00:45 second clips) from our conversation and weave them between my own narration. If the interview is airing in a Q&A format I will cut down your answers for clarity and length. If the interview is for a print/digital story I will select a few quotes to include in the piece.

Where is this being published/airing?

As a freelancer, I can’t always be certain where a story may end up until I have finished all the interviews and research. If I know where a story is airing/being published I will let you know as soon as I reach out to you for an interview, or as soon as I find out. Publication plans can change for a variety of reasons but I will do my best to keep you up-to-date.

What does “on the record” and “off the record” mean?

There are no across-the-board definitions of “off the record,” “on background,” and “on the record.” These terms can mean different things depending on the journalist or news organization you speak with. I always try to have a clarifying discussion before an interview to make sure everyone is on the same page about the terms of the interview. Generally I go into interviews with this understanding of the terms:

ON THE RECORD: Everything stated and materials shared could be used in a news story and attributed to the source, by name, unless otherwise agreed upon. In some situations a source may want to share something off the record during an on the record interview. That is fine, as long as we’ve discussed it beforehand. 

ON BACKGROUND: Information shared may be used in a news story without quoting or naming a source directly. I often receive tips on background and chase to get statements and information on the record, without revealing details about the initial source. Alternatively, a source may want to share information and have it attributed to them, without being directly quoted. 

OFF THE RECORD: No part of what is said during an interview will be used in a news story or referenced or shared with a third party in any way. I will not, for example, mention information shared off-the-record to another source to get them to verify it on-the-record. I try to limit off-the-record interviews to very sensitive situations and generally do not agree to off the record interviews with public officials. Everyone involved, including myself, must first agree that something is off the record. 

Please do not send materials or information that you wish to keep off the record or on background before we have a discussion about whether I am able to honor your request!

Can I remain anonymous or use a pseudonym?

I often interview people in precarious and dangerous situations and understand that some people can only speak with me if they remain anonymous (fully or partly) or use a pseudonym. I try to grant requests for anonymity whenever possible. However, policies on this vary newsroom by newsroom and it’s important to have a conversation early on about expectations and what’s possible.

What are you doing to ensure source security and privacy?

I take the privacy, security, and well-being of people who speak with me for stories extremely seriously. I take every step possible to safeguard sensitive materials sent to me as well as to protect the identity of sources who wish to remain anonymous. I prefer using encrypted communication platforms, such as Signal, to communicate for stories and regularly delete or take other steps to anonymize interactions. If you want a more secure way to get in touch or to find out more details about my security protocols, please email lydia.emman@protonmail.com.