Far from simply having a set of questions and putting them to your subject, interviewing for a journalistic piece is a unique combination of skills that blends respect, knowledge and empathy with the ability to find and capture a narrative.

If you’re looking to brush up on your existing journalism skills, you’re fascinated by the process that goes into producing an interview piece, or you simply want to improve your confidence when it comes to talking to people you don’t know, this masterclass with Simon Hattenstone is your answer.

In one interactive evening, you will have the opportunity to learn from a journalist who has interviewed some of the most famous people in the world, including Angelina Jolie, Banksy, Snoop Dogg and Desmond Tutu, as he guides you through what makes a good interview - and how to conduct one yourself.

As well as being given the opportunity to try out your interviewing skills first hand, you will discover the crucial rules of etiquette for quizzing your subject, how to deal with difficult subjects, the importance of identifying possible disasters (as well as how to sidestep them) and more.

Join us for this rare opportunity to hear from and put your questions to one of the Guardian’s leading interviewers.

Course Content

How to interview: etiquette and techniques, what to ask and when, and getting the agreement to interview
Practising your interviewing techniques
Dealing with difficult subjects
Things that might go wrong - and how to avoid them
Q&A

This course is for ...

Anyone with an interest in developing their interviewing skills, for whatever purpose
Aspiring journalists
Established journalists who want to strengthen their interviewing techniques

Tutor Profile

Simon Hattenstone is a features writer and interviewer for the Guardian. He occasionally writes books which are not read by many people. His memoir Out Of It is about a childhood illness that saw him bed-ridden for two years of hallucinatory madness. He has ghost-written books for snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and Duwayne Brooks, the friend of Stephen Lawrence who was attacked with him. He also has published two e-book compilations of interviews with actors and sporting giants.

Course Details

Date: Thursday 17 February 2022
Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm (GMT)

6.30pm GMT | 7.30pm CST | 10.30am PT | 1.30pm ET

This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

You will be sent a link to the webinar two hrs before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have not received the access link within one hour of the scheduled start time.

All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible but please contact us at masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have any queries or concerns.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

How to interview: A journalism masterclass with Simon Hattenstone