Source Prep
Prepare strategic interview briefs for expert sources with research-backed question architecture
What You Can Do
You can transform a scheduled expert interview into a strategic session by mapping your source's public record, incentives, and known positions, then building a tiered question architecture that moves from foundational to provocative with built-in pivots. Claude helps you anticipate likely evasions, scripts pre-emptive follow-ups, flags attribution constraints, and designs your interview flow for narrative payoff—not just information collection.
Features
synthesize public record, incentives, known positions, and credibility signals
structure questions from foundational to provocative with pivot strategies and follow-up scripts
anticipate likely evasions, talking points, and pre-emptive counter-questions
sequence questions for narrative payoff and maximum insight extraction under time pressure
identify off-record boundaries, legal risks, and sensitivity zones
identify angles likely to yield specific, quotable detail and sharp language
build questions that validate or challenge source claims against public record
Example Output
Example 1: Science Policy Expert Brief
Source Profile: Dr. Sarah Chen, climate scientist, recent congressional testimony
- Public positions: carbon pricing is necessary but insufficient
- Known evasion: will pivot to technological solutions when pressed on regulation
Tier 1 (Foundation): What specific gaps in current policy led you to testify?
Tier 2 (Detail): When you said regulation alone is insufficient, what did you mean by insufficient—timeline, scope, enforcement?
Tier 3 (Provocation): Your lab receives fossil fuel industry funding. How do you reconcile that with your climate stance?
Anticipated deflection: "We accept funding from all sectors to maintain independence."
Pre-emptive follow-up: But independence from whom—your funder or your scientific conclusions?
Example 2: Corporate Executive Brief
Sensitivity zone: Recent layoffs—will use "workforce optimization" language
Attribution flag: May request comments be on background only
Quote-mining angle: Ask about "tough decisions" to surface candid language about trade-offs
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with source prep methodology and timing guidelines:
- Source Profile Template: structured fields for background mapping, incentives, public record, credibility assessment
- Question Architecture Worksheet: tier-based question builder (foundational → detail → provocative) with pivot scripts
- Deflection Playbook: anticipated evasion matrix with pre-emptive follow-ups and counter-questions
- Interview Flow Checklist: sequence design, time allocation, and narrative payoff mapping
Who It's For
- Investigative reporters preparing for high-stakes expert interviews
- Feature writers interviewing academics, scientists, or policy makers
- Journalists interviewing corporate executives or institutional leaders
- News anchors or broadcast reporters needing pre-interview strategy
- Freelance journalists with limited reporting time building maximum efficiency
Best For
- Pre-interview preparation for expert sources with known positions or sensitivities
- Anticipating evasions and scripting follow-ups before the conversation
- Structuring question sequences for narrative impact and quotable insight
- Mapping source credibility, incentives, and attribution constraints
- Building cross-check strategies to validate or challenge source claims against public record
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