Cherubs see Evanston through interviews Cherubs break out of their comfort zones |
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Wearing his Chicago White Sox hat, and with his tape recorder and notebook in hand, Dallas Wright, a cherub from Chicago, attempted to approach Evanston residents to talk about a controversial high-rise proposal in Evanston for an article. Wright had thought interviewing strangers for articles was easy until he became a cherub. “Usually (Evanston residents) would avoid eye contact, ignore me, continue their conversations with a neighbor or just walk away from me,” Wright said. “It was brutal.” Wright wasn’t alone. Other cherubs received similar reactions from Evanston residents when trying to interview them. When they explained the assignment, the instructors said they wanted cherubs to break out of their comfort zones and talk to people they wouldn’t normally approach. “We wanted students to feel comfortable speaking to strangers and approaching them,” Jacqueline Chmielnicki, a National High Sschool Institute instructor, said. “We told them not to be discouraged if people were unwilling to talk. We gave them background info and taught them how to behave.” Out of about 30 interview attempts for his high-rise story, Wright said he only completed four interviews. But after five weeks of reporting practice, Wright said he recognized how he needed to improve. “My voice is too soft and people can’t hear me,” Wright said. “It’s also really deep and sometimes intimidating.” The art of interviewing entails finding the balance between asking compelling questions, listening and trying not to look terrified, said Jim Santel, a cherub from St. Louis. Cherubs had to do more than just look presentable in order to get the interview, he said. “I consider myself a pretty well-dressed guy,” Santel said. “But you (also) have to be fearless. Be prepared and practice active listening. It’s harder than you think.” After five weeks of making source lists for instructors and conducting interviews in person, over the phone and through e-mail, David Tintner had one rule to live by. “Shorthand,” Tintner said. “Think about it. Perfect it.” |
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