Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #1: Write the things that you wish you could read. Write about the thing that friends ask for your advice on. If you boil down what a journalist does, it's really about finding things out, and then telling people what you’ve found out.

Die-hard and old-school journalists used to hate what was called “the five friend rule,” where you would interview your friends. I always used the “five friend rule” because your friends are always willing to help, and it becomes sort of like a brainstorming session. Since your friends are always willing to talk to you, and when they do, the story you had thought you were going to write might be totally different after speaking to friends. You never know where these conversations will lead!

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #2: Treat everyone like they are your friend. As I mentioned, I treat everyone I have ever interviewed like a friend. First, I act human, so I’ll usually praise something that has nothing to do with the interview, something like, “I love those earrings! Where did you get them?”

This makes whoever you’re interviewing feel comfortable talking to you. In the midst of this human interaction, they may perhaps even forget for a sec that you're a journalist, thereby telling you things they probably wouldn’t tell a journalist who’s super serious right off the bat, leaving the interviewee more on guard.

If you treat everyone you interview — including the chief of police —like a friend, they will answer your questions as if you are their friend, which more oft than not lead to great quotes!

This is also how I found out that Kate Hudson craved all things “sour-tasting” when she was pregnant. I spoke about my weight gain when I was pregnant, and then we were off to the races. Our interview was more of a conversation than anything, and that’s really the goal.

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #3: Find your niche. That makes you memorable. I used to spend my summers interning at the Calgary Herald. Every other summer intern — we were about seven — wanted to work in the news section. I, however, after hearing this, declared I wanted to work in the entertainment section. I followed my gut, thinking people love reading about local or international celebrities that came to town. Why would I want to compete with the other interns? Just doing THAT — choosing not to work in news like all the others — made me stand out…before I even started working!

So, don’t follow the pack. Since again, I landed more front page stories working in the entertainment department than any other intern.

The Calgary Herald was so impressed that they offered me a full-time mid-level job because I was so “sassy” when it came to getting good quotes and interviews from celebrities, making for a memorable article, with front page placement, ahead of Calgary Sun — their competition.

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #4: Newspaper interviewing is not something you will happen upon by accident. Never take no for an answer! Or, rather, like I said in part one, “You don’t ask, you don’t get!” as my Zaida used to say. So, never go in thinking, “They’ll never talk to me, so why bother?”

This is how I know The Rock eats 16 eggs for breakfast. I begged and begged his publicist for an interview, until she finally folded and said, “The only time he could talk to you is after his flight lands, and we are in the car to his hotel.” DONE!

I accompanied her to pick The Rock up from the airport to interview him on the way to his hotel, about 20 minutes away. Guess what? Lucky for me ,The Rock wanted to stop for breakfast.

He was the star, so his publicist asked the driver to take us to a restaurant before going to his hotel. Because I just happened to be there, I was there to hear his breakfast order. My 20-minute interview turned into an hour-and-a-half chat over the most important meal of the day.

It’s the little details — 16 eggs for breakfast! — that make for a memorable interview. Sometimes, you can tell more about a person through their actions and by the way they treat others (Denzel Washington was an asshole. When I tried to ask him a question, he spit a wad of gum at my feet! Which, of course, I included in my article.)

So, not only say, “I’ll interview them whenever, even if it’s just for five minutes,” but make sure to take in and include the small details, and not merely what comes out of their mouths. Include what they’re wearing, how they speak to waiters, what brand of luggage they use. Even say you would love to see a photo of their children! These little details are what separates an interesting, memorable, different, “stand out” article that comes to life from just another boring interview.

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #5: The shit disturber in me often played “reporter in distress!” I can’t count the number of times I used the line, “My editor is going to kill me if I don’t even get five minutes.”

Publicists, believe it or not, ARE human. And many are very kind! Playing the pity card made them feel for me. They didn’t want me to lose my job. This is how I got an exclusive interview with the David Copperfield when no other journalist could. Again, I’d said, “I just need five minutes to ask him questions to make my boss happy!” AND I added that I was “a HUGE magic fan.”

His publicist fit me in the 15-minute break this superstar magician had during back-to-back performances in Las Vegas. (The first question he asked me was, “Who is your favourite magician?” I did not know any other magicians — because I had lied about that part! — leading me to stutter, “You, of course!” before launching into my questions, with only 10 minutes left.)

That interview ended up on the front page, because no other journalist was as persistent — or sneaky? — I was, especially after his publicist had told every journalist he wasn’t giving any interviews. Well, he gave me one! So, never give up so easily.

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #6: Become friends with publicists/bodyguards/spouses. A publicist is the gatekeeper for interviews. So, I became friends with many of them, always thanking them profusely for fitting me in. But sometimes, a publicist will say “Nope!” Well, I don’t take “nopes!”

When Jennifer Lopez was in town doing a press scrum, which means that every journalist can hear the answer to your question, and vice versa, I simply left the room we were in, stood by the elevator, and waited for her to come out. I waited and waited.

Finally, the elevator landed and there, hidden behind a MASSIVE BODY GUARD, was J. LO. Naturally, I played “reporter-in-distress,” saying, “Can I just ask you two really quick questions because I have to get to a doctor's appointment.” Lopez happily agreed — she had kept us waiting for TWO HOURS after all, so not only did I get two amazing, exclusive quotes, but I then went back to hear her responses to the other journalists. (P.S. She is really down-to-earth and lovely!)

Bodyguards are also gatekeepers. When Wayne Gretzky was at a media event, secured behind a roped-off VIP section, I simply started a conversation with his bodyguard. “Do you think you could convince him to come over here for just five minutes? I’ll be forever grateful!”

The bodyguard did. Not only did I get to ask The Great One a few questions — that no other journalist could — I also got him to sign an action figure of him for one of my friends. I thanked that bodyguard profusely. “Bless your kind heart!!” I don't know exactly why, but “bless your kind heart” makes people happy. After all, he could have ignored me completely!

Spouses are good too! Sometimes they make better interviewees than their famous counterparts. I ended up taking a motorcycle ride with a politician’s wife, who told me that her husband had just started a diet. Again, conversing with people who surround the subject is, in fact, interviewing. You can get a lot of juice from them if you treat them nicely and like a friend!

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #7: You really have to think outside the box! Especially when it comes to A-list celebrities, who come to town to promote their new fragrance or activewear line. I could get out, from their publicists, where they were staying just by playing it cool, like, “Do they like the Four Seasons?" To which the publicist would either say “Yes” or “They’re staying at {insert name of the fanciest hotel in the city}.”

Then, I’d waltz into the hotel’s gym very early in the morning — as though I was a guest too, no biggie — and just wait. Celebrities are always fitting in a workout. This method worked out quite well for me…twice. Once I found myself in the same spin class as the Olsen Twins, with only two other spinners. Another time? I ended up on an elliptical machine beside Jennifer Aniston.

Now, as long as you mention that you’re not only a fan — praise always works — you’re also a journalist, then everything they say is on record. Because I was wearing Lululemon workout clothes, hanging out in a hotel gym, and just being friendly, things went smoothly. I slipped in that I was a journalist, then QUICKLY moved on to other topics. Some good ways to kickstart a casual convo: “How many times do you work out?” or “I’m surprised you don’t have a personal trainer,” which lead to conversations like, “Mine happened to be sick, so I thought I’d just come down here early.” Or something like that! (I don’t consider it stalking. I’m investigating!)

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t 8: Do your research to know what was already asked! I do a lot of research before interviewing people. If I spot the answer to a question online that I wanted to know, I will not EVER ask the same question. You shouldn’t either. Ask NEW questions because, believe it or not, people hate being asked the same question over and over again. I would say that at least six out of every 10 people I’d interview would say to me, “Great question!” because they had never been asked it before!

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #9: Make it easy on them. It’s getting harder and harder to get responses in a timely fashion. I now ask the publicist or person in question if I can send my questions via email, adding, “This way, you can answer whenever you have a few free minutes.”

And since people are becoming more litigious with the press — Meghan Markle anyone? — it also serves another purpose. They will not only get the questions back to you sooner but also BOTH you and the interviewee will have proof that you didn’t take anything they said out of context.

Shit Disturbing SecRE:t #10: Whenever I had to cover a red carpet, I wouldn’t stay near other journalists looking for quotes. I would stay near the fashion journalists because, frankly, I could ask a fellow news journalist for what a celeb said. But fashion journalists get different information. So, always find at least a couple of other journalists with different specialties who might be willing to swap intel.

Also, if you walk into an event with confidence, acting like you belong there — you can walk around and see, for instance, what’s on the menu. Again, little details come with a little shit disturbing!

Now that you know my seREts to being a shit disturber, go out and make some headlines!

Until next time, flip your hair and the page — of a newspaper, while they still exist.

xo,

Rebecca