Can you provide an example of a story that you shaped and developed?

Sample answer to the question

Sure! One example of a story that I shaped and developed is when I worked as a Senior Story Editor for a publication. I was responsible for overseeing the narrative content, ensuring story consistency, quality, and adherence to the publication's style and tone. One story I worked on was about a young woman's journey to overcome adversity and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. I collaborated with the writer to develop the plot, character arcs, and pacing of the story. I provided feedback and guidance to ensure the story was engaging and emotionally resonant. Throughout the editing process, I worked closely with the writer to resolve any narrative discrepancies and strengthen the story's impact. The final story was well-received by readers and received positive feedback from the publication's audience.

A more solid answer

Certainly! As a Senior Story Editor, I had the opportunity to shape and develop numerous stories, but one that stands out is my contribution to a series of articles focused on the impact of climate change on local communities. To ensure exceptional writing and editing, I conducted thorough research and collaborated with a team of writers to create compelling narratives that conveyed the real-life experiences of individuals affected by climate change. In terms of leadership and team management, I organized regular brainstorming sessions and assigned specific article topics to each writer, providing them with clear guidelines and deadlines. Additionally, I implemented a feedback system where writers could submit their drafts for review, and I provided constructive criticism to enhance the overall quality of the stories. By incorporating my strong analytical and critical thinking skills, I identified key themes and overarching narratives to present a cohesive series of articles. Throughout the process, I fostered a collaborative environment by encouraging open communication and valuing diverse perspectives. My outstanding organizational and multitasking skills enabled me to effectively manage multiple articles simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery while maintaining high-quality standards. The series received widespread acclaim for its engaging storytelling and informative content, showcasing the publication's dedication to addressing pressing issues.

Why this is a more solid answer:

This is a solid answer because it provides specific details and examples that highlight the candidate's exceptional writing and editing skills, leadership and team management abilities, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, and outstanding organizational and multitasking skills. The answer demonstrates how the candidate shaped and developed a series of articles on climate change, emphasizing their research, collaboration with writers, leadership in organizing brainstorming sessions and providing feedback, analytical thinking in identifying key themes, and multitasking abilities in managing multiple articles simultaneously. However, the answer could still be improved by providing more quantitative results or specific examples of the impact of the series on the publication or its audience.

An exceptional answer

Certainly! Let me share an exceptional example of a story that I shaped and developed during my tenure as a Senior Story Editor. One project I am particularly proud of is a multimedia feature on the journey of a young refugee from war-torn Syria to finding a new home and pursuing education in a foreign country. To showcase my exceptional writing and editing skills, I conducted in-depth interviews with the refugee, capturing their emotions, challenges, and triumphs. I carefully crafted a narrative that interweaved their personal experiences with factual information, resulting in a deeply moving and impactful story. In terms of leadership and team management, I collaborated with a team of photographers, videographers, and graphic designers to create a visually compelling multimedia experience. I oversaw the entire process, coordinating the different elements, and ensuring a cohesive and impactful final product. My strong analytical and critical thinking skills came into play as I strategically chose the most poignant moments and visuals to tell the story effectively. The project required close collaboration with translators and cultural advisors to accurately convey the nuances of the refugee's journey. My ability to work collaboratively in a team environment was crucial in facilitating smooth communication and ensuring everyone's voices and perspectives were represented. I also leveraged my outstanding organizational and multitasking skills to manage the project timeline, ensuring all deliverables were met. The multimedia feature received widespread recognition, with numerous awards and accolades, and it deeply resonated with the publication's audience, sparking conversations and promoting empathy towards refugees globally.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

This is an exceptional answer because it provides specific and detailed examples that clearly demonstrate the candidate's exceptional writing and editing skills, leadership and team management abilities, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, and outstanding organizational and multitasking skills. The answer showcases how the candidate shaped and developed a multimedia feature on a refugee's journey, emphasizing their skills in conducting interviews, crafting a narrative, coordinating a multidisciplinary team, strategically choosing visuals, collaborating with translators and cultural advisors, and managing the project timeline. The exceptional impact of the feature is highlighted by mentioning the numerous awards and accolades it received and its resonance with the publication's audience. The answer effectively addresses all the evaluation areas and provides tangible evidence of the candidate's abilities.

How to prepare for this question

Prepare specific examples of stories you have shaped and developed in the past. Be ready to provide detailed information about the process you followed, challenges you encountered, and the impact of the stories.
Highlight your exceptional writing and editing skills by discussing how you ensure quality, consistency, and adherence to the publication's style and tone. Mention any specific strategies or techniques you utilize.
Demonstrate your leadership and team management abilities by discussing how you collaborate with writers, provide feedback, and coordinate the efforts of a multidisciplinary team. Highlight any successful projects you have overseen.
Describe how your strong analytical and critical thinking skills contribute to shaping compelling stories. Explain how you identify key themes, incorporate diverse perspectives, and ensure cohesive narratives.
Emphasize your ability to work collaboratively in a team environment by discussing your communication skills, openness to feedback, and respect for diverse perspectives. Give examples of successful collaborations.
Discuss your outstanding organizational and multitasking skills by describing how you manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and maintain high-quality standards. Mention any specific tools or techniques you use for organization and prioritization.

What interviewers are evaluating

Exceptional writing and editing skills.
Excellent leadership and team management abilities.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Outstanding organizational and multitasking skills.