17 Multimedia Journalist Interview Questions and Answers

A multimedia journalist is a reporter who writes stories, takes photos, and records videos for a news organization’s website, app, or social media platform. The best multimedia journalists are able to do all three of these things well.

If you’re a multimedia journalist, you know that the job requires a lot of hard work and dedication. But it can also be extremely rewarding. You get to report on the stories that matter to you and your community, and you have the opportunity to reach a wide audience.

Before you can start reporting, you may need to go through a job interview. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common multimedia journalist interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable shooting video?

Shooting video is a crucial skill for multimedia journalists. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the necessary skills to do your job well. In your answer, explain that you are comfortable shooting video and can use different types of equipment. Share an example of how you used these skills in your previous role.

Example: “I am very comfortable shooting video. I’ve been using professional-level cameras since my first journalism internship. I know how to operate many different kinds of cameras, including DSLRs, camcorders and drones. Shooting video is one of my favorite parts of being a journalist because it’s so rewarding to see the footage come together. Last summer, I was assigned to cover a protest at City Hall. I set up my camera on a tripod and captured some great shots of the event.”

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced while reporting and how did you overcome them?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your problem-solving skills and how you’ve overcome challenges in the past. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

Example: “One challenge I have faced while reporting is finding sources who are willing to speak on record about their experiences. In my last role as multimedia journalist, I found that many people were hesitant to talk to me because they didn’t want to share their personal information online. To solve this issue, I started using Signal to communicate with sources so they could remain anonymous. This helped me find more sources who were willing to talk to me.”

How do you decide which multimedia tools to use for a particular story?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your skills to create multimedia content that is engaging and informative for readers. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you make decisions about which tools to use, including what factors influenced your decision-making process.

Example: “I decide which multimedia tool I should use based on the story’s topic and my audience. For example, if I’m writing a news article about a new technology product release, I would likely use video or audio elements because it helps readers better understand the information in the article. If I’m writing an investigative piece, I may choose to include more interactive elements like infographics or data visualizations to support the evidence I’ve gathered.”

What is your process for fact-checking and verifying information?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and ensure accuracy. Describe a time when you had to verify information, what steps you took to do so and how you ensured that the facts were correct before publishing them.

Example: “I always make sure to check my sources for reliability and credibility. I usually start by looking at the author’s credentials and background, including their experience in journalism or writing. If they have no professional experience, I look into their personal background to see if they are credible enough to be an expert on the topic. Next, I search for other articles written by the same person to compare style and tone. Finally, I use multiple online resources like Google Scholar and LexisNexis to find additional information about the source.”

Provide an example of a story you covered that utilized a combination of multimedia elements.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to use multimedia elements in a journalistic setting. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you used multimedia elements to tell the story and highlight its importance.

Example: “In my last role as a multimedia journalist, I covered a local city council meeting where the mayor was discussing plans for a new development project. During his speech, he mentioned that the project would create more jobs for residents but also increase traffic congestion on certain roads. After the meeting, I interviewed several residents who lived near the proposed construction site about their thoughts on the project. They expressed concerns about increased traffic and safety issues.

I then created a video news piece with interviews from multiple residents and footage of the roadways they were concerned about. The piece helped inform other residents about the project and provided them with information about what they could do if they had questions or concerns.”

If you had to choose one multimedia tool to work with, which would it be and why?

This question is a great way to see how much experience you have with multimedia tools and which ones you prefer. It also helps the interviewer understand what your strengths are when it comes to working with these types of software. When answering this question, try to be as specific as possible about why you would choose that tool over others.

Example: “If I had to choose one multimedia tool to work with, I would definitely choose Adobe Premiere Pro because I’ve been using it for years now and am very comfortable with it. I find it easy to use and love all of its features. I especially like being able to edit audio and video together in one program.”

What would you say is your greatest strength as a multimedia journalist?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit into their team. They want to know what makes you unique as a multimedia journalist, so try to answer honestly and highlight your best skills.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work quickly under pressure. I have had many assignments where I needed to file stories in real time, and I always managed to get the job done on time. In fact, I often got my stories published before other journalists because I was able to stay focused and meet deadlines. This skill has helped me build relationships with sources who trust that I will publish their story accurately.”

How well do you work under pressure?

Multimedia journalists often have tight deadlines and work under pressure to produce quality content. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the stress of working in a fast-paced environment. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and stay productive when you’re under time constraints.

Example: “I thrive under pressure because I know that it’s an opportunity for me to prove myself. When I’m up against a deadline, I get more focused on my work and am able to complete tasks quickly. I also like to challenge myself by taking on projects with tight deadlines so I can learn new skills and improve my performance.”

Do you have experience working on teams to create multimedia content?

This question can help interviewers understand how you work with others and your communication skills. Use examples from past experiences to highlight your teamwork abilities, communication skills and ability to collaborate with others.

Example: “In my last role as a multimedia journalist, I worked on a team of five other journalists who all had different skill sets. We each took turns researching topics, interviewing sources and creating our own pieces of content. While we were working on the same stories, we would share ideas and feedback with one another so that we could learn from each other’s perspectives. This helped us create more in-depth content for our audience.”

When was the last time you had to learn a new skill or technology to improve your reporting?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of how you adapt to new situations and challenges. Use your answer to highlight a time when you had to learn something quickly, such as a new software or technology, and how you were able to do so successfully.

Example: “When I was working for my previous news station, we started using a new social media platform that allowed us to create more interactive content with our audience. At first, I wasn’t sure how to use it, but after watching some tutorials online, I was able to start creating engaging multimedia stories on the platform.”

We want to improve our social media presence. What ideas do you have to help us do this?

Employers want to know that you have experience with social media and how it can help their organization. Show them your knowledge of the platforms they use, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and give them a few ideas on how you would improve their presence.

Example: “I think one way you could improve your social media presence is by creating more content for each platform. For example, if you post more frequently on Twitter, then people will be more likely to follow you there. Another idea I have is to create a hashtag for each story you publish so readers can easily find related content. This also helps build community around your brand.”

Describe your writing process when you’re creating an article versus a video script.

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you adapt your writing style for different mediums. Your answer should show that you can write in a variety of styles and formats, depending on the needs of your audience.

Example: “I usually start with an outline when I’m creating a script for a video. This helps me organize my thoughts and plan out what information I want to include in the piece. When I’m writing an article, I prefer to just dive right into the writing process. I find it easier to get ideas down on paper without planning ahead too much. However, both processes are useful for me because they help me think through the content I’m creating.”

What makes a good photo or video?

This question can help interviewers understand your photography and videography skills. Use examples from past projects to explain what you look for when taking photos or filming a video.

Example: “A good photo is one that tells the story in an interesting way. I always try to capture moments that are visually appealing, but also convey emotion. For example, at my last job, we were covering a local high school football game where the home team was losing by a lot. The crowd was getting pretty upset, so I took some photos of fans looking sad and others showing support. These types of photos helped tell the story of how the home team lost.”

Which multimedia platforms do you use regularly and why?

This question can help an interviewer understand your experience with multimedia platforms and how you use them. You can answer this question by naming the ones you’re most familiar with and explaining why you use them.

Example: “I regularly use WordPress, Drupal and Joomla for my multimedia journalism projects because they are easy to navigate and have a lot of resources available. I also use YouTube, Facebook and Twitter as part of my work since these are some of the most popular social media sites that people visit. I find that using these platforms helps me reach more people who may be interested in reading or watching my stories.”

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when creating multimedia content?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your overall approach to multimedia journalism. Your answer should include an overview of how you plan out and execute your work, including any specific strategies or processes that have helped you succeed in this role in the past.

Example: “I think it’s important to always keep the audience in mind when creating content. I make sure to write my stories with as little jargon as possible so that anyone can understand them. I also try to use visuals that are easy to interpret, like charts and graphs for data-heavy pieces. This helps ensure that everyone is able to access the information they need from my articles.”

How often do you think multimedia journalists should update their stories?

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach your work and the deadlines you meet. Your answer should show that you are organized, dependable and able to manage multiple projects at once.

Example: “I think multimedia journalists should update their stories as often as possible while still maintaining quality content. I always strive to provide my audience with the most up-to-date information on a story so they know what’s happening in real time. In my last role, I updated our website every hour during breaking news events. This helped us gain more traffic than other websites because we were providing new content before anyone else.”

There is a lot of conflicting information about a story you’re covering. How do you decide what information to include in your piece?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you gather information and make decisions about what to include in your multimedia journalism. Use examples from past experiences where you had to decide between multiple sources of information, and explain why you chose one over another.

Example: “I have worked on several stories that involved conflicting information. In my last position, I covered a story about a local politician who was accused of embezzling funds from his campaign account. The politician denied all allegations, but there were many people who came forward with evidence that he did indeed steal money from his campaign fund.

In this situation, I gathered as much information as possible from both sides of the argument. Then, I compared the two sets of information side by side and determined which pieces of information matched up. This helped me find the truth behind the accusations.”