17 Broadcast Journalist Interview Questions and Answers

As a broadcast journalist, you’ll be responsible for researching, writing, and presenting the news on radio, television, or both. Your job is to inform the public about important events, and you’ll need to be able to think on your feet and adapt to changing circumstances.

If you want to become a broadcast journalist, you’ll need to start by impressing a potential employer in an interview. To do that, you’ll need to be able to answer broadcast journalist interview questions with ease and confidence.

In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to prepare for your interview, as well as how to answer broadcast journalist interview questions.

Are you comfortable working in front of the camera?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you are comfortable in front of the camera and can be a natural on-air personality. Showcase your confidence, charisma and ability to speak clearly and concisely while maintaining eye contact with the camera.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in front of the camera. I have been doing so for several years now, and it’s something I enjoy immensely. In fact, I find it much easier than writing because I get to use my voice and express myself more naturally. I also feel like I’m able to connect better with viewers when I’m speaking directly to them.”

What are some of your favorite types of stories to report?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your interests and passions. It can also show them what types of stories you’re most qualified to report. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some specific stories you’ve covered in the past that were meaningful or interesting to you.

Example: “I really enjoy covering breaking news stories because I love being able to deliver information as it happens. In my last role, I was often the first reporter on scene for major events like fires and car accidents. I loved being able to provide accurate information to viewers while helping them stay informed about what was happening. Another type of story I find interesting is investigative reporting. I’m always looking for ways to shed light on important issues that people may not know about.”

How would you describe your writing style?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your writing style and how it fits with their organization’s needs. Your answer should include an example or two of how you write, but also why you use that style.

Example: “I would describe my writing style as direct and concise. I like to keep sentences short and paragraphs simple so readers don’t have to spend too much time reading through long pieces. I think this is important because broadcast journalism is often done live, so viewers need to be able to understand what’s happening quickly. In my last role, I was covering a city council meeting where one of the members was speaking for over an hour about his proposed budget. I condensed his speech down into a few key points that were easy to understand.”

What is your experience with using audio equipment?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using broadcast equipment and how much experience you have. If you have no prior experience, consider volunteering to work in a radio station or television studio to gain some hands-on experience before applying for this role.

Example: “I’ve worked as an audio engineer at my college’s radio station for two years now. I’m comfortable operating all of our audio equipment, including microphones, mixers and digital recorders. In fact, I helped upgrade our entire system last year when we upgraded from analog to digital recording.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to conduct an interview under pressure.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to perform under pressure. They want to know that you can handle a variety of situations and adapt quickly. In your answer, describe the situation and how you handled it. Explain what steps you took to ensure you were prepared for the interview despite the circumstances.

Example: “In my last role as a broadcast journalist, I was covering a story about a local business owner who had been accused of fraud. The day before the scheduled interview, the business owner canceled on me. I knew I needed to find another way to get an interview with him so I could still cover the story. I called his secretary and asked if she would be willing to set up a phone interview. She agreed, and I conducted the interview over the phone while also gathering information from other sources.”

If you were given the opportunity to host your own television show, what would it be about?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the industry and what you would like to do if given the chance. It also shows that you have thought about how you could make an impact in the world through television. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a topic or idea that you are passionate about and would love to share with others.

Example: “If I were given the opportunity to host my own show, I would create a program that focuses on helping people find their purpose in life. I believe that everyone has something they are meant to do, but sometimes we get lost along the way. I would interview different experts who help people discover their passions and teach them how to use those skills to live a happy and fulfilling life.”

What would you do if you were assigned to cover a story that you were not familiar with?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you approach unfamiliar situations and whether you are willing to do research or ask for help. Your answer should show that you are willing to learn new things, but also that you have confidence in your ability to cover a story even if you’re not an expert on it.

Example: “If I was assigned to cover a story that I wasn’t familiar with, I would first try to find out as much about it as possible before my deadline. If there isn’t enough time to do thorough research, I would contact the person who assigned me to the story and let them know that I needed more time to prepare. Then, I would use any available resources to learn what I could about the topic.”

How well do you multitask?

This question is a great way to assess your ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks at once. Interviewers may ask this question to see if you can handle the fast-paced environment of broadcast journalism. In your answer, try to explain how you stay organized and prioritize your tasks.

Example: “I find that I am quite good at multitasking. Throughout my career as a journalist, I have had to cover several stories at once while also interviewing sources and writing articles. I use organizational tools like spreadsheets and project management software to keep track of all of my assignments. This helps me ensure that I meet deadlines and deliver quality content.”

Do you have any experience writing headlines?

This question can help the interviewer determine your ability to write concisely and creatively. Use examples from previous experience that highlight your skills in this area.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for writing headlines for our website’s homepage. My editor would give me a general idea of what she wanted the headline to be about, and then I would create several different options for her to choose from. She usually chose one of my first two ideas because they were short and catchy. In another instance, I wrote a headline on deadline when my editor wasn’t available. I had to think quickly and come up with something creative that still fit the publication’s style.”

When was the last time you updated your knowledge of current events?

This question can help the interviewer determine how passionate you are about current events and whether you stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the world. It also shows them that you’re willing to put in the effort to learn more about your field. When answering this question, consider mentioning a specific instance when you learned something new or researched an event.

Example: “I try to read at least one newspaper every day, and I subscribe to several news apps so I can get updates throughout the day. Last month, I was reading my morning paper when I saw a headline about a recent natural disaster. I immediately opened my app and found out that it was much worse than originally reported. I called my station manager and told her I wanted to go cover the story. She agreed, and I spent the next week covering the aftermath of the disaster.”

We want to improve our social media presence. How would you use social media to promote our station?

Social media is an important part of any broadcast journalist’s job. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand how social media can help their station and what strategies you would use to promote it. In your answer, explain that you would create a plan for the best times to post on each platform. You should also mention that you would share interesting stories from the newsroom and highlight the work of other journalists at the station.

Example: “I think it’s important to have a presence on all major social media platforms. I would create a schedule where we posted content every day at different times. For example, we could post our top story in the morning, a lighter piece in the afternoon and a more in-depth article in the evening. We could also take advantage of live streaming apps like Periscope or Facebook Live to interact with viewers.”

Describe your process for fact-checking.

This question can help interviewers understand how you ensure the accuracy of your reporting. It can also show them that you are willing to take responsibility for any mistakes you make in your work. In your answer, explain what steps you take to verify information before it airs.

Example: “I always start by reading through my notes and transcripts to refresh my memory on the story I’m covering. Then, I’ll look at any supporting documents or evidence I have to support my claims. If I need more information, I will contact the person who provided me with the initial facts to get clarification. Finally, I’ll review everything one last time before going live.”

What makes a good story?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you can identify what makes a story interesting and how you would approach writing one. When answering, consider the qualities of a good story that you’ve learned in your previous experience as a broadcast journalist.

Example: “A good story has an element of surprise or conflict. It should be something that people haven’t heard before or at least not recently. I also think it’s important for a story to have a human element. People are more likely to care about a story when they know who is involved and why it matters.”

Which journalistic style do you prefer: narrative or analytical?

This question is designed to assess your writing style and the type of content you prefer to produce. It also helps employers understand how you might fit into their organization, so it’s important to answer honestly.

Example: “I enjoy both narrative and analytical styles of journalism. I find that they each have their place in a news cycle, but I lean more toward narrative because I love telling stories. In my last position, I was able to do this by interviewing sources and then crafting compelling narratives from those interviews. I would like to continue doing this in my next role.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a broadcast journalist to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities they’re looking for in a broadcast journalist. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill that you feel is important and explain why it’s beneficial.

Example: “I think one of the most important skills for a broadcast journalist to have is communication. It’s important to be able to communicate clearly with your team members and interview subjects so that everyone understands what you’re saying. I also think it’s important to be organized because there are many details involved in producing a news program. Being organized helps me stay on top of my work and meet deadlines.”

How often do you think journalists should update their knowledge of current events?

This question can help interviewers understand how you stay up-to-date on current events and the news. They may want to know that you’re committed to your work, so they might ask about your methods for staying informed. In your answer, explain what steps you take to keep yourself updated on current events.

Example: “I think it’s important to always be learning new things. I subscribe to several newsletters and online publications that send me updates when there are new articles or developments in a story. I also have an alert set up with my favorite search engine so that whenever something is published online, I get an email notification.”

There is a controversial issue that you don’t know much about. How do you go about researching it?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate approaches new information and whether they are willing to do their own research. This can be an important skill for broadcast journalists, as they may need to learn about topics quickly before going on air.

Example: “I would start by doing some basic online research to find out more about the issue. I would look at both sides of the argument and try to get a good idea of what the facts are. If there is enough time, I would also like to speak with experts in the field or people who have first-hand experience with the topic.”