It is now less a description of the furniture of the room where the
interview takes place, of the clothing worn by the person inter viewed , of his mannerisms, of his personal tastes in cigars, auto mobiles , or color for neckties, — the interview over the telephone
has brought at least this advantage. Specialists are now sent to interview specialists and often important information is secured and given publicity. The interview given to the press is often the medium of communication between public men and their
constituents, rather than the lengthy personal correspondence of earlier days, — “ What an editor wants,” says Banfield , “ is an
interview that will be read with interest by those who have perfect faith in the honesty and accuracy of the information con veyed in his journal.” 41
It was Raymond Blathwayt who conceived the idea " that
from interviewing individuals it might be well so to enlarge the scope of interviewing as to exploit great systems of thought or of practical work or of social effort and endeavour.” He therefore interviewed the great public schools of England in a series of
interviews called “ The New Era and the Public Schools," and followed it by other series showing how different existing in stitutions could be modernized in their habit of thought or action.42 It is to -day everywhere the group that is preferably
interviewed . Any interesting activity is interviewed, - a new industrial plant, the work of the city engineer, the development of a new street, playgrounds, school gardens, the safe -guarding
of machinery ; all these activities are far more interesting sub jects for interviews than are the comings and goings of local celebrities .
The converse of the group interview is the collective inter view , where a large number of interviewers meet collectively an
important person and gain from him the information desired . The collective interview thus becomes a safeguard against mis interpretation and elaboration , since both the person interviewed
and the interviewers become mutual checks on wilful mis statements. 4 F . Banfield , “ Interviewing in Practice," National Review , November ,
1895, 26 : 367-378 .
- Through Life and Round the World ,
