PROFILE INTERVIEW: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES AND EXAMPLES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The interview biographical sketch, also called interview in profile, is a journalistic genre that serves to capture the biographical details of a person: character, personality, habits, mindsets, opinions about various topics and personal anecdotes, among others.

The semblance interview seeks to create a kind of portrait of the interviewee. For this, the journalist or interviewer uses various tools such as searching for biographical material and asking questions, in order to develop a biographical sketch.

The profile interview allows a slightly more intimate and closer view of the interviewee, so it is also allowed to use certain literary forms that seek to highlight physical and emotional features.

It highlights the value of a person who has a public interest, it focuses on individuality in a context of social importance, there is the presence of value judgments and interpretations and it is timeless, because it is a material that can be reviewed no matter the time.

characteristics

Some of the most important features of this type of interview are the following:

- It is not considered a biography.

- Describe the character of the interviewee.

- Describe all kinds of features, including ways of expressing themselves when speaking.

- Does not particularly emphasize physical features.

- Reveal important anecdotes of the interviewee.

- The interviewer can use literary resources in the writing.

- There is presence of value judgments and interpretations.

- Generally, the interviewee is a person who has social, political or economic importance.

- There is support in biographical resources and the interview for the elaboration of the sketch that you want to achieve.

- To deepen much more about the subject, the journalist or interviewer can also ask questions of close people.

- It is timeless newsworthy, because there is no emphasis on a current topic.

- The journalist or interviewer is the one who has control of the process; so you can focus on what is most important to you.

- There is inclusion of movements, gestures and expressions of the interviewee.

Types

Obituary

It is a posthumous semblance with which the deceased person is remembered. It is usually prepared in advance, to be published shortly after the person's death.

Of activities and objects

Some authors believe that within the sketches it is also possible to integrate sketches about customs and important events of a community or region.

In this case, the interviewer will inquire with the people who are in that place to get an idea of ​​the community in question.

Of groups and places

They have a character inclined towards the symbolic-social. In this case, the center is no longer a person but a group that exerts influence in a certain place.

Elements that a semblance subject must have

Generally speaking, anyone who is deemed important and of social relevance is suitable for a profile interview. However, it is possible to be guided by the following criteria:

Achievements

A person who has achieved a series of positive achievements is attractive to the public. Information about the way in which they obtained these favorable results is usually included in the profile of these characters.

Fame

It is about a person who is regarded as a celebrity. There is an interest in knowing how she dresses, what she thinks, where she lives, what her aspirations are, among other aspects.

Extreme situations

People who are subjected to extreme situations of poverty, oppression and even drug addiction are susceptible to being the subjects of portraits, since they reflect social phenomena that may not be so perceptible to the general public.

Unusual lifestyle

Also attractive for a profile are people who have unusual behaviors or who are outside the range considered normal within a society.

Symbol

It refers to individuals who represent a particular cause or movement, or striking social situation.

Preparation of the semblance

One of the main points in preparing a profile interview is to start with the basic questions: name, age and profession. This will serve for the interviewer to establish what the starting point of the interview is at the moment of emptying the information.

After this, questions must be elaborated in order to take into account the most important aspects of the subject of the semblance.

When formulating the questions, it is necessary to take into account the following:

- Questions related to childhood memories can be an interesting source of anecdotes and revealing information. Experiences at school, childhood friends, and even relationships with parents can provoke striking responses to the text.

- Details about the interaction with the first friends and even the first romantic relationship are also relevant. For example, if the interviewee has a partner, you can ask how you met him / her. The loss or birth of a loved one can also be included.

- Inquire about personal tastes in subjects such as music, sports, movies and books gives a good portrait of the character. It should be noted that, beyond collecting names, it is important that the interviewer also inquires about the reasons behind these inclinations.

- Regarding the personal nature, it is recommended to ask these types of questions a little after the interview has begun, in order to previously establish a relationship of trust. Once you have gained some confidence, you can ask about the perceptions of close people, as well as how you perceive yourself.

Examples

First example

"-And love?

- (Laughs): I was a bit rebellious. I certainly don't mean to say that I have closed my heart to love, do I? Back in town I met a young man of the same level that I cannot forget to date. It still remains in the intimate, going round, round, round. All my feelings, all my illusions come together in him ».

Second example

«Raúl Madaggri is 95 years old, but he looks young. His blue eyes saw many things: the death of his mother in 1932, the bankruptcy of the family business in 1955, the fall of the democratic government in 1976, the birth of his first great-grandson two months ago… However, they do not look tired. Raúl is a tall man who walks upright and confidently ».

References

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3. Definition of semblance. (sf). In Definition.of. Retrieved: March 7, 2018. In Definition.de of definition.de.
4. Journalistic interview. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: March 7, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
5. The news, opinion and profile interview. (2007). In ColorABC. Retrieved: March 7, 2018. In ColorABC de abc.com.py.
6. The semblance. (2009). In ColorABC. Retrieved: March 7, 2018. In ColorABC de abc.com.py.