Journalist interview questions and answers
This Journalist interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions.
10 good Journalist interview questions
- What do you like to read on your own time?
- Describe a time you found and pitched your own story.
- Share some examples of your best work.
- What was your role in putting together [this work sample]?
- How do you cope with the stress of tight deadlines?
- How do you ensure accuracy in your work?
- What publishing software have you used before?
- How often do you use social media? Which sites do you use the most?
- How would you rate your ability to use technology for storytelling?
- Describe a time you worked with a multidisciplinary team to tell a story.
Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.
1. What do you like to read on your own time?
This question helps to understand the candidate’s interests and whether they are well-read, which is crucial for a journalist.
Sample answer:
“I enjoy reading a mix of fiction and non-fiction. I’m particularly drawn to investigative journalism pieces and historical novels.”
2. Describe a time you found and pitched your own story.
This question assesses the candidate’s initiative and ability to identify newsworthy stories.
Sample answer:
“I once noticed a pattern of local businesses closing down due to rising rents. I pitched the story, and it ended up being a front-page feature.”
3. Share some examples of your best work.
This question evaluates the quality and diversity of the candidate’s portfolio.
Sample answer:
“I’ve covered a range of topics from politics to human interest stories. My best work includes an investigative piece on local corruption and a feature on mental health awareness.”
4. What was your role in putting together [this work sample]?
This question helps to understand the candidate’s role in collaborative projects.
Sample answer:
“I was the lead reporter and also contributed to data collection and analysis. I coordinated with the graphics team for visuals.”
5. How do you cope with the stress of tight deadlines?
This question assesses the candidate’s ability to handle stress and meet deadlines.
Sample answer:
“I prioritize tasks and break them down into smaller steps. I also keep a buffer time for unforeseen delays.”
6. How do you ensure accuracy in your work?
This question evaluates the candidate’s commitment to journalistic integrity.
Sample answer:
“I double-check all facts and figures and always cross-reference sources. I also have a checklist to ensure all ethical guidelines are followed.”
7. What publishing software have you used before?
This question assesses the candidate’s technical skills.
Sample answer:
“I’ve used WordPress for web publishing and Adobe InDesign for print. I’m also familiar with basic photo editing software.”
8. How often do you use social media? Which sites do you use the most?
This question gauges the candidate’s engagement with social media platforms, which are crucial for modern journalism.
Sample answer:
“I use social media daily, primarily Twitter for news and LinkedIn for professional networking.”
9. How would you rate your ability to use technology for storytelling?
This question evaluates the candidate’s ability to leverage technology in journalism.
Sample answer:
“I’d rate myself 8 out of 10. I’m proficient in using multimedia elements but could improve in data visualization.”
10. Describe a time you worked with a multidisciplinary team to tell a story.
This question assesses the candidate’s ability to collaborate with different departments.
Sample answer:
“I worked with designers, data analysts, and videographers for a feature on climate change. It was a collaborative effort that resulted in a comprehensive story.”
What does a good journalist candidate look like?
A strong journalist candidate should be curious, detail-oriented, and adaptable. They should have a diverse portfolio, be comfortable with technology, and have excellent communication skills.
Red flags
Be cautious of candidates who lack a diverse portfolio, struggle with deadlines, or show a lack of interest in current events.
Journalist Interview Questions
When interviewing journalist or reporter candidates, use their portfolio of published articles and newscasts to start a purposeful conversation. By the time you have reached the interview phase, you should only be seeing candidates with polished work samples that are relevant to your company’s audience.
Then, use these interviews to verify the hard and soft skills that you require. If you’re a digital-first outlet, for example, it might be helpful for candidates to have some familiarity with a CRM, publishing tools like WordPress, or social media. If they will be working closely in a cross-functional team, ask about their role in creating a complex project with a similar team setup. If they will be required to come up with their own story ideas most of the time, ask about their experience with uncovering and pitching their own stories.
Finally, top marks go to candidates who have applied because they clearly see a strong fit for themselves within your organization and can back that up with knowledge of your audience and the kind of work you typically produce.
Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.
Role-specific questions
- What do you like to read on your own time?
- Describe a time you found and pitched your own story.
- Share some examples of your best work.
- What was your role in putting together [this work sample]?
- How do you cope with the stress of tight deadlines?
- How do you ensure accuracy in your work?
- What publishing software have you used before?
- How often do you use social media? Which sites do you use the most?
- How would you rate your ability to use technology for storytelling? What are your strengths and weaknesses in this area?
- Describe a time you worked with a multidisciplinary team to tell a story.
- What do you know about our publication? What could we do better?
- Who would you consider to be our competitors?
- How familiar are you with our staff writers? Whose work do you follow and why?
- What current stories that are relevant to our publication?