Rapport building

Definition

Rapport building is the process of establishing a positive and trusting relationship between an interviewer and their subject. This connection is essential for creating a comfortable atmosphere that encourages open communication and honesty during interviews. By fostering rapport, interviewers can enhance the quality of responses, leading to richer and more insightful content for their writing.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Establishing rapport can begin even before the interview starts, through casual conversation or shared interests, making subjects feel at ease.
2. The interviewer’s tone of voice, eye contact, and open body language play a crucial role in building rapport.
3. Effective rapport building allows interviewers to gain deeper insights into their subjects' thoughts and feelings, enriching the storytelling process.
4. Different magazine formats may require varied approaches to rapport building based on audience expectations and the subject matter being covered.
5. A strong rapport can lead to follow-up opportunities or referrals to other potential interview subjects.

Review Questions

• How does effective rapport building impact the quality of information obtained during an interview?
  • Effective rapport building creates a comfortable environment where the subject feels safe to share personal insights and opinions. When subjects trust the interviewer, they are more likely to open up about their experiences and emotions, resulting in richer content. This deeper connection can lead to unique perspectives that enhance the overall quality of the interview material.
• Discuss how different types of interview questions can affect the rapport built between an interviewer and a subject.
  • Different types of interview questions can either enhance or hinder rapport building. Open-ended questions encourage subjects to express themselves more freely, which fosters a deeper connection. In contrast, closed-ended questions might create a more formal atmosphere that limits engagement. The choice of questions should align with the goal of building trust and encouraging open dialogue.
• Evaluate the importance of non-verbal communication in rapport building during interviews across various magazine formats.
  • Non-verbal communication plays a vital role in establishing rapport during interviews, regardless of magazine format. Body language, facial expressions, and eye contact convey warmth and interest, making subjects feel valued. Evaluating these non-verbal cues allows interviewers to adapt their approach depending on the format's context—whether it’s a serious profile piece or a light-hearted feature—ensuring that the connection remains strong throughout the conversation.

Related terms

Active Listening: A communication technique that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the speaker is saying, crucial for developing rapport.

Trustworthiness:

The quality of being reliable and honest, which helps in creating a sense of security that encourages subjects to share more during an interview.

Body Language: Non-verbal cues expressed through posture, gestures, and facial expressions that can significantly influence how rapport is built during conversations.