Interviews are one of the most fundamental tools of data collection in digital journalism, enabling journalists to gather firsthand information, perspectives, and narratives. Among various interview techniques, structured and semi-structured interviews are widely used due to their systematic yet adaptable nature. Conducting both types of interviews on the same issue reveals significant differences in the depth, flexibility, and quality of information obtained, which directly impacts journalistic storytelling and credibility in digital platforms. To understand these differences, consider an issue such as the impact of social media on mental health among young adults. In a structured interview, the journalist prepares a fixed set of questions in advance, with little or no deviation during the interaction. For example, questions may include: “How many hours do you spend on social media daily?”, “Have you experienced anxiety due to social media use?”, and “Do you believe social media affects your self-esteem?” Each respondent is asked the same questions in the same order, ensuring uniformity. The responses obtained through this method are highly organized, comparable, and easy to quantify. This format is particularly useful when the journalist aims to gather statistical insights or identify patterns across a large sample. In contrast, a semi-structured interview combines a predefined framework with the flexibility to explore responses in greater depth. While the journalist may begin with similar base questions, they are free to probe further depending on the respondent’s answers. For instance, if a participant mentions feeling anxious due to online comparisons, the journalist can ask follow-up questions such as, “Can you describe a specific incident that made you feel this way?” or “How do you usually cope with such feelings?” This approach allows for richer, more nuanced data, capturing emotions, personal experiences, and context that structured interviews may overlook. The nature of information obtained through structured interviews is primarily quantitative and standardized. It is useful for generating measurable data, identifying trends, and supporting data-driven journalism. Since every respondent answers the same questions, the data can be easily coded, analyzed, and presented in charts, graphs,