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Interviewing for a Newspaper or TV Reporting Job
By Dan Rohn
Rohn is the founder of JournalismJobs.com, and a former copy editor and writer with The Washington Post and editor with America Online. Rohn was 1998 co-president of the Asian American Journalists Association (D.C. chapter) with his wife, Janice Hui, a producer with CNN.

1. Sell Yourself.

Be sure to mention at least two or three of your best selling points, such as your resourcefulness or ability to work well on deadline. Provide good examples.

2. Show Knowledge of the Company.

Before the interview, review at least a week's worth of the company's articles or broadcasts. Show that you're already familiar with its audience and the type of stories it is likely to run. If you're interviewing at a job fair, try to get the inside scoop from someone who has already interviewed with them.

3. Ask About Training and Advancement.

Find out about development and training programs for young reporters. How does one get promoted? Such questions will show that you're thinking long-term and looking critically at the company.

4. Be Ready to Talk About Your Clips or Demo Tape.

Explain how you got your stories, which ones you're most proud of, which ones were most challenging, and what you learned from each one. Employers want to see how you've progressed. You also might want to explain how you beat the competition on a story or how something unfolded. 

5. Be a Good Sport.

If the interviewer tells you you don't have enough experience, don't try to convince them how great you really are. Listen carefully and thank them for their advice. The tips they provide could prove to be beneficial if you interview with them again.

6. Keep Your Options Open.

If your goal is to cover education or politics, but the interviewer tells you the company only has an opening for a crime reporter, don't frown and say you're not interested. Always keep your options open. Especially at job fairs, you're often planting seeds for further communication.

Some Other Things to Keep in Mind:

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview.

Bring extra copies of your clips or demo tape just in case someone unexpectedly wants one.

Let the employer dictate the interview and be a good listener.

Take good notes so you can refer to them in your follow-up letter. 

Don't be long-winded. Keep your answers clear and succinct.

Don't complain about your previous employer or co-workers, even if prodded by the interviewer.

Don't put your clips in a fancy binder. Instead, staple each story and assemble them with a paper clip.

For demo tapes, make sure they are well-labeled, with the tape cued up to your piece.