Tell us about a time when you had to report on a sensitive or emotional story. How did you handle it?
News Reporter Interview Questions
Sample answer to the question
One time, I had to report on a sensitive story about a local family that had lost their home in a fire. It was a deeply emotional situation, as they had lost everything they owned. To handle it, I approached the family with empathy and sensitivity, ensuring that they felt comfortable sharing their story. I interviewed them in a private setting, allowing them to express their emotions without feeling pressured. I also made sure to fact-check all the information to ensure accuracy in my reporting. I wrote the story with their perspective in mind, highlighting their resilience and the support they received from the community. In my reporting, I focused on raising awareness about fire safety and the importance of a strong support system during difficult times.
A more solid answer
One time, I had to report on a sensitive story about a local family that had lost their home in a fire. It was a deeply emotional situation, as they had lost everything they owned. To handle it, I approached the family with empathy and sensitivity, ensuring that they felt comfortable sharing their story. I interviewed them in a private setting, allowing them to express their emotions without feeling pressured. I also made sure to fact-check all the information to ensure accuracy in my reporting. In addition to a written article, I decided to create a multimedia package to enhance the storytelling. I took compelling photographs of the family and their burnt home, capturing the raw emotions they were experiencing. I also recorded video interviews with the family members, giving them the opportunity to share their story in their own words. This multimedia package not only added depth to the story but also engaged the audience in a more impactful way. I presented the story with a strong on-camera presence and used voiceover skills to enhance the emotional tone. The story received a positive response from the audience, who appreciated the empathetic approach and the use of multimedia elements.
Why this is a more solid answer:
The solid answer expands on the basic answer by including details on fact-checking, storytelling techniques, and the use of multimedia journalism. It also highlights the candidate's strong on-camera presence and voiceover skills. However, it can still be improved by providing more specific examples of how the candidate demonstrated exceptional writing and editing abilities as well as solid news judgment and ability to anticipate audience interest.
An exceptional answer
One time, I had to report on a sensitive story about a local family that had lost their home in a fire due to a faulty electrical system. It was a deeply emotional situation, as they had lost everything they owned, including cherished family heirlooms. To handle it, I approached the family with utmost empathy and sensitivity, ensuring that they felt supported throughout the process. I conducted multiple interviews with family members, neighbors, and fire department officials to gather a comprehensive understanding of the incident. I made sure to verify every detail, cross-referencing information from multiple sources and ensuring accuracy and objectivity in my reporting. Recognizing the impact of visuals in storytelling, I collaborated with a talented photojournalist to capture powerful images that portrayed the devastation and resilience of the family. I also tapped into my video editing skills to create a short documentary-style video, weaving together interviews, photographs, and footage of the fire aftermath. The video provided a compelling visual narrative that complemented the written article. In addition to the multimedia elements, I leveraged my exceptional writing abilities to craft a story that resonated emotionally with the audience. I focused on highlighting the family's strength, their determination to rebuild, and the outpouring of support from the community. The article also included fire safety tips to raise awareness and prevent similar incidents. My solid news judgment allowed me to anticipate audience interest, leading to the story being shared extensively on social media and generating meaningful conversations about fire safety and community support.
Why this is an exceptional answer:
The exceptional answer goes into great detail about the candidate's approach to reporting the sensitive story. It includes specific examples of fact-checking, storytelling techniques, and multimedia journalism. It also highlights the candidate's exceptional writing abilities and news judgment. The answer demonstrates a deep understanding of the job requirements and shows a high level of skill in all evaluation areas.
How to prepare for this question
- Research and familiarize yourself with the ethical considerations and legal standards in journalism when reporting on sensitive or emotional stories.
- Practice active listening and empathy skills to approach interview subjects with sensitivity and respect.
- Develop your multimedia journalism skills, including photo and video editing, to enhance storytelling.
- Stay updated on current events and practice anticipating audience interest to develop strong news judgment.
- Consider taking courses or workshops on investigative journalism techniques and fact-checking to strengthen your expertise.
- Stay calm under pressure and practice live reporting to build comfort with on-air situations.
What interviewers are evaluating
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
- Keen eye for detail and a critical approach to verifying sources.
- Strong on-camera presence and voiceover skills for broadcast reporting.
- Proficiency in multimedia journalism, including photo and video editing.
- Solid news judgment and ability to anticipate audience interest.
- Experience with live reporting and comfort with live on-air situations.
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