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.