300+ TOP Reporter Interview Questions [UPDATED]

1. Tell Us What Is The Difference Between Saying Journalism And Communications?

When you write a letter to someone, you are communicating. Journalism is someone writes in a newspaper or magazine for the whole world to read.

2. Tell Me What Are Tear Sheets And Clips For Copy Editors?

You can make color reductions and I am sure they will be acceptable. Journalism graphics majors at our university usually buy large portfolios–at least 12 by 17 to put their design tear sheets. Electronic PDF are becoming more and more acceptable. Some of our students here have made online digital portfolios and put their resumes and all of their tear sheets (article and design) on a website.

3. Tell Me What Is The Status Of Written Journalism These Days?

I job shadowed a newspaper reporter when I was a senior in high school, him and his boss basically laughed at me because they said that journalism was a dying thing

If you do not necessarily agree with that though, there will always be a need for journalists, whether on newspapers or internet.

4. Explain Me How Do You Deal With Being In Potentially Dangerous Situations?

Well, I do that everyday of the week. I’ve never walked away from a story. Violence is the cost of doing business. You keep your nerve, you keep your wits and you chase stories.

5. Tell Us Why Are Professional Ethics So Important In Journalism And The Legal World?

Lawyers are held to a code of ethics by law (not that they necessarily follow it). As far as journalists are concern, it is more like a suggested set of guidelines. These days it is very rare to find any kind of ethics in Journalism.

6. Tell Me What Are The Unanswered Questions?

As journalists, we’re not always good at spelling out what we don’t know in a story, especially if it’s a breaking story. Oftentimes, we try to write around the holes. Better to be clear and ‘fess up in the story about what remains to be explained and clarified. This question also prompts the writer and editor to compile a list of questions for any follow-up stories.

7. Tell Us How Should You Dress The Characters In Video Journalism Movie?

Old woman should be wearing a nice classic dress, with pearls, pearl necklace and earrings, maybe a pillbox hat, shawl very Jackie O, or Queen Elisabeth. Egotistical businesspersons usually wear nice suits, slicked back hair, and cocky stern look on face.

8. Tell Me What’s Your Take On Blogs And The Burgeoning Online Media Culture?

I don’t have a lot of time for that. I’m busy. This aggregation thing, it’s a bad ethos. If people are not producing original journalism, why should people pay attention Overtime, they won’t. But by then the real institutions are going to be gone, and you just don’t build those overnight. Everyone’s going to be locked into these aggregators until they get bored and realize they don’t serve their interest, and they’re going to look around for the real newspapers and the real newsmakers, and they’re not going to be there anymore.

9. Tell Me What Are The Different Leads Of Journalism?

For the news lead, you should have the 5 W’s & H (who, what when, where, why, and how). However, if it is for a feature lead then there are wide varieties. Magic Three, Descriptive, Anecdotal, Narrative, and Teaser are the main ones.

10. Tell Us What Should An “editors Note” Contain? How Does One Write It?

An editor’s note is usually found in the first several pages of a magazine, and can contain anything from the editor’s most recent experiences to his/her opinion on the contents of the magazine. Editor’s notes can also contain responses to readers’ letters, new research on whatever the subject of the magazine is, event tips.

Editor’s notes usually reveal the editor’s personality, which makes readers come back for more

11. Tell Me What Is The Definition Of Journalism Ethics?

Journalism is the creativity and view of the journalist. It is writing for a newspaper or magazine, but it is the journalist opinion, view, and heart on the issue.

12. As You Know What Are Reporter Credentials? How Are Credentials Obtained?

There is no standard for a reporter’s credentials;
the only thing I ever had was my employee ID card issued at the time I got the job, and that was always fine. There may be something issued for entertainment or sports journalism, but I do not know those areas.

Some venues may require that you send in a request on corporate letterhead (stationery) for a special event’s credentials, but those standards would vary from event to event.

13. Tell Me How Does Freedom Of Press Affect Journalism?

It affects by journalists can write what they want as long as it does not cross certain limits.

14. Explain The Terms Yellow Journalism And Muckrakers?

It means a journalist who writes about bright stuff and about hope.

15. Tell Me What Is A Review In A Newspaper?

Review is someone gives his or her opinion about something.

16. Tell Me What Is The Difference Between Journalism And Studio Television?

Journalism is to Studio Television as Newspapers are to Magazines.

17. Explain Me Why Was Yellow Journalism Used?

It is to “Smear” the opposition. To exaggerate news and enrage readers.

18. Tell Me Why Do People Keep Journals?

Well they’re used to keep personal thoughts that they are to nervous to share with others.

19. Do You Know What Is Yellow Journalism?

It is the practice of over-dramatizing events in order to sell newspapers.

20. Explain Me What Are News Values?

News values simplified, determines how important a news story is to the media and the attention it is given by its consumers.

21. Tell Us What Is The Difference Between Journalism And Professional Writing?

They are very similar. Journalists generally write for the public (newspapers, magazines, websites, etc.) Professional writers can write for any kind of business, but normally must have a specific topic to write. Journalism is more general in that you learn how to write for the public. Professional writing is more private because you would likely be doing it about a specific subject and/or for a specific industry.

22. Tell Us What Computer Packages Have You Used?

Computing skills are becoming important in all jobs – rather like the skill of driving. If you can use a word-processor well then tell them – although some journalists type with two fingers, word-processing is a valuable skill in journalism – if you can’t do it then learn! Start by word-processing your essays. 

You could also mention if you have used a database, Microsoft Windows or email. They will almost certainly not be looking for specific skills, just a general familiarity and willingness to learn. Desktop publishing skills could be useful especially if you are aiming at sub-editing posts where a knowledge of layout, fonts and kerning will be useful – “Quark” is the industry standard DTP package.

The Internet is becoming increasingly important and you may be asked your views on how it is affecting the traditional journalistic media. Try to learn how to use it, so you can talk from a position of experience.

23. Tell Me How Internet Journalism Is Different From Electronic Media?

Web or Internet journalism helps one to read, hear, and view the news, all at the same time! Those who cannot access television, radio and newspapers, keep themselves updated, courtesy the electronic edition of newspapers. Yes, change is the only constant

Web journalism entered India about ten years ago. Initially, it had to cope with the pressures posed by the post-liberalization era. The deteriorating plight of web journalism led one to question its very survival. However, some companies decided to stick it out, come rain or shine and availed, during the period 2000 – 2002, the services provided by the search engines like Google.

The web revolution started soon thereafter, with newspapers launching their Internet editions. Foreign majors like Yahoo, Google, and MSN also played the role of sheet anchor. These portals also recognized the importance of Hindi and other regional languages. The agreement between Yahoo and Jagran, to initiate a portal, could be an important milestone in the history as well as the future of e-journalism. It will also boost dissemination of news. The linguistic purity associated with web journalism is still a debated topic. It must always be kept in mind that news is read from a newspaper, heard over radio, and viewed on electronic media. However, with web journalism we can read, hear, and view news, all at the same time.

24. Explain What Censorship Is There In Journalism In Your Country?

Here is the lowdown for the UK.

1. Censorship exists in many forms in the UK but is about what the paper’s think they can get away with.
2. We have no freedom of speech but what has evolved is through Acts of Parliament and court judgments.
3. Government controls.

25. What The Media Can Say Through A Number Of Ways?

1. Restricting information but the Freedom of Information Act has eased this.
2. D notices which restrict information if there is security issues.
3. Court orders preventing newspapers from publishing stories if they are considered to prejudice a case but only when someone has been charged and trial is proceeding. See the current cash-for-honors scandal where The Guardian got permission to reveal details about an e-mail sent by an aide of Tony Blair.

26. Explain What Is The Difference Between A Magazine And Newspapers In Term Of The Content Of Each Media?

The simple answer is that newspaper contains news articles and magazines contain feature articles. However, the U.S. has 18,000 magazines and about 4,000 newspapers. In addition, both contain some of both. The main difference is in audience. Newspapers focus on a broad audience of all ages in one specific city or location. Magazines go to a national or international audience who has an interest in a specific subject, such as gardening, photography, Christianity, history, etc. Newspapers are published daily or weekly; magazines are published monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. 

27. Tell Us What Qualities Do You Need To Be A Journalist?

Working as part of a team is common in many media jobs. It is important that you can get on and work quickly and efficiently with the other technical and creative production team staff. Time very literally is money in media production so there is no room for staff difficulties or temperament. When there are tough deadlines or late nights everyone must pull together to complete the task at hand. An employer will want to know that you can meet these demands and that you can establish a working relationship very quickly with people who you may be meeting for the first time.

28. Tell Me What Is The Difference Between Electronic And Print Journalism?

Electronic journalism uses electronic stuff (read computers).Print journalism uses ink (read newspapers).

29. Explain What Are The Problems Of Investigative Journalism?

Among the problems I encountered was finding, gaining access to, & then protecting the identity of sources for inside info. Then you still have to get some type of confirmation the info you have obtained is accurate & verifiable.

Many source documents needed for corroboration are difficult or impossible to gain access to as they are protected by security classification or have been destroyed.

30. Explain Where Does The Expression “op-ed” Come From And What Does It Mean?

The op-ed page is the page directly opposite the page that contains that particular newspaper’s editorials. It is a forum for views from people, columnists from other papers, readers, and letters to the editor, etc.

31. Explain Me How Do You Get Witnesses, Detectives, Family Members And So On To Talk To You?

• I’m unfailingly courteous. You show people respect and they’ll give you the goddamned world. We’re walking into their lives, very often on the worst day of their lives. They don’t owe us anything. One thing I say is “I’m terribly sorry to bother you. I know this is a difficult time. I wonder if you might say a few kind words about…” and then I turn it into a conversation. I don’t just question them. I open with an apology and I engage in a conversation.
• This might seem like an old Catholic-school boy, but I also show up with a shirt and tie. Basically, they don’t know me from jack, and I’m going into their homes, their places of worship, their hospital rooms. A shirt and a tie convey respect. It’s very basic stuff. It also conveys authority: I’m someone you should talk to. I mean, it’s not something I grew up doing. Hell, I was a rock critic for a number of years with a ripped t-shirt and a leather jacket. But this is a remarkably different game.