[lbo-talk] ask the president about his focus on golf

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Fri Aug 1 12:10:45 PDT 2003


[These words of wisdom come from Richard Berke, the favorite to head the NY Times DC bureau now that Jill Abramson is becoming managing editor <http://www.utexas.edu/coc/journalism/SOURCE/j310/berke.html>]

3/29 Lecture: Richard Berke

National Political Correspondent - NY Times

Don't misrepresent yourself.

Credibility for journalists is important. If readers don't believe you, if sources don't believe you, nobody will read what you have written.

In all your work, try to fair and even handed. If I do a story that is critical of someone, I try to get that person's response high-up in my story.

Don't be lazy in your work, if someone tells you something, check it out. Always try to find the original source.

Work hard to enterprise stories, try to think of creative ways to get a story or to get an interview others won't have.

Example: booking a ticket on the same flight as a US Senator.

When you interview people, try to make them comfortable, don't be confrontational People in an interview shouldn't feel threatened. Often times you can get a better response if you pose the question in a relaxed, casual way, or if you ask a question in an indirect way.

Example: asking the president about his focus on golf.

You never know the impact of the small, little stories.



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