Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/Newsroom/Interviews desk

Interviews desk

This is The Signpost's interviews desk, for formulating interview questions for various and sundry interview series.

Some questions
The following is a set of standard questions for use in opening interviews with WMF staff.

Getting started

 * How long have you been working for the WMF? (This question might not be necessary, since it's often a matter of public record)
 * What projects have interested you the most, and why? (Some preparatory research may answer this question for you)
 * What is your background?
 * When did you get started on the projects? Username? :) (Again, research may take care of this question)
 * There are so many volunteer projects out there clamoring for our attention; what inspired you to get involved in Wikipmediawiki?

Work at Wikimedia

 * What's your area?
 * So what do you do all day, anyway?
 * Any exciting projects you've been working on lately?
 * What part of this job/role do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging?
 * What are the major frustrations of this job/role? (Not sure if we'll get honest/complete answers to this one from employees; maybe it's more suited to non-paid users, or to an interview that won't be publicized)
 * If you could do things all over again with the knowledge you have now, what would you change?
 * Do you have any advice for someone interested in this field/job/role?
 * Are there any written materials you suggest prospective __________s read? (Aside from the pertinent policies/guidelines, if the interviewee is a community member such as an admin)
 * What abilities or personal qualities do you believe contribute most to success in this field/job/role?
 * Do you have any special word of warning or encouragement as a result of your experience?
 * What are your long-term goals / what is your long-term vision for __________ (e.g., the MediaWiki codebase, the WikiProject, the business development department, or whatever else the person is involved with)

Miscellaneous

 * What's your favorite part of the projects?
 * What are some of your favorite books?

Volunteer community members
See also the WikiProject desk, which coordinates interviews with project members as part of the weekly WikiProject report.

Potential interviewees

 * User:Happy-melon &mdash; Volunteer developer (specialties: core, code review)
 * User:Mr.Z-man &mdash; Volunteer developer (specialties: bots, code review), oversighter
 * User:Siebrand &mdash; Volunteer developer (specialties: bots, MW 1.16wmf)

Previous interviews

 * Wikipedia Signpost/2006-02-06/ArbCom update
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2006-02-20/Jimbo interview
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2006-03-20/Office actions (interview with Brad Patrick)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2006-10-09/Eloquence interview


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2007-01-15/Arbitration series
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2007-09-10/Jimbo interview
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2007-11-19/Anthere interview
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2007-12-03/Gardner interview


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2008-01-28/John Broughton interview
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2008-02-25/Michael Snow interview
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2008-03-03/Domas Mituzas interview
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2008-04-14/2000th FA


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2009-10-26/Interview (with writer John Blossom)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2009-12-07/Interview (with writer David G. Post)


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2010-11-29/Interview (with Johanna Niesyto and Nathaniel Tkacz from "Critical Point of View")
 * (check this gap)


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2011-07-25/Wikimedian in Residence interview (Daniel Mietchen)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2011-10-24/Interview (Oliver Keyes)


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-01-02/Interview (Sue Gardner)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-03-12/Women and Wikipedia
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-03-12/Interview (Rob Schnautz)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-04-02/Interview (movement roles)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-04-09/Interview (movement roles)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-04-09/Wikidata (with Wikidata)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-04-16/Paid editing (with Silver seren on the topic of paid editing)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-04-30/Paid editing (with Pete Forsyth on the topic of paid editing)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-05-07/Paid editing (with Phil Gomes on the topic of paid editing)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-10-01/Paid editing (with Jimmy Wales on the topic of paid editing)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2012-12-31/Interview (with Brion Vibber)


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2013-12-11/Interview (Wehwalt)


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2014-03-19/Interview (Nate Ott)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2014-05-28/News and notes (Casliber)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2014-06-11/Paid editing (with William Beutler on the topic of paid editing)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2014-07-09/Wikimedia in education (LiAnna Davis)
 * Wikipedia Signpost/2014-08-20/Interview (Michael Szajewski)


 * Wikipedia Signpost/2015-01-07/Interview