2026 - Summer

NYC Backstage: The Art of the Interview (Session 2)

Course Number: SS2: JOUR-UA 204

Day & Time: Tue/Thu 4:30-7:30 pm

Location: 20 Cooper Sq.

NYC hosts more than 300 cultural events each summer, from the Mostly Mozart Festival to Central Park’s SummerStage to Shakespeare in the Park. Through partnerships with New York City’s top performance spaces, including the world-renowned Public Theater and Jazz at Lincoln Center, you’ll have front row access as a working journalist to major cultural institutions.

In this class you will meet and interview the major players, performers and visionaries, in the New York City arts scene. This summer will feature a special visit from the journalist behind one of the year’s most talked-about interviews, who will provide a masterclass in high-stakes journalism. We will also explore the crucial intersection of arts programming and accessibility, highlighted by a field trip to Lincoln Center’s groundbreaking ‘All-Access’ program. As more arts institutions embrace inclusivity, you’ll have a front-row seat to understanding the strategies that make these vital initiatives successful.

Your interview subjects will come from every corner of the arts world in NYC, and your subjects will range from the infamous to the working artists behind the scenes, each essential to bringing the arts alive. Beyond immersing yourself into the cultural life of NYC, you’ll learn to perfect the art of the interview. We’ll examine the most important components of the interview: human psychology, preparation, relationship building, how to gain access and the treatment of sensitive subject matter. Learn how to ask the right questions, create a comfortable environment for your guests, and ultimately create the most compelling stories. You will leave this class with the skills and the techniques to interview anyone! You will also practice real-world journalism in the field and will have the opportunity to create print, audio, or video stories to build your portfolio.

Students should come prepared with the requisite production skills.

Notes: Counts as an elective for the journalism major and both journalism minors.