Opening

Hi how are you? Thank you so much for doing this for me and taking time out of your busy
schedule to talk to me, especially on a Sunday that was very kind of you.

Oreintation
So as I mentioned before, this is for a class I’m taking called Communications 2010. The
assignment is to interview someone with the job that I would someday like to have. I know we’ve
talked a lot before when I did the job shadow with you but I’d like to go over some things more in
depth.
Basically there are three topics that I’d like to go over with you this morning. Some facts about
the journalism industry, what kind of education you need, and how it affects your life. However,
like I said before, this will only take about a half hour so I won’t take up too much of your time.
EVALUATION?
Also would it be alright if I recorded this conversation? I’ll be taking notes but I just don’t want to
miss anything.
Alright do you have any questions before I start?

Interview
Facts abot the Journalism industry
1. I know you work for the Salt Lake Tribune, but how is it different from the other
newspapers?
Nations first non profit, got our paperwork done for IRS- BIG SWITCH
First ​legacy ​newspaper to change to the non profit, separate entity
Daily newspapers which is major
Utah has two major newspapers- them and Desert News
● How are they the same?
Most are jst trying to reacha general audience
Basic genres
Social media/digital presence
Just trying to get people info
2. Have you ever worked for another newspaper outside of Utah?
West Jordan and South Valley journal
ABC4
Monthlies which hinders the news[a[er but it does get your more time, however that hurts
you because your comp. Is already getting out the information.
Not your first source
Reporters aren’t full time, level of professionalism is varied
● How are newspapers different outside of Utah
NEW YORK TIMES AND WASHINGTON POST - They have different teers,
ahve been able to make pitches all over the nation
Can make people pay for the news since its national news
 They just keep getting bigger, local gets smaller
How does the local get subscriptions, news and being valid
If they lose small newspapers it will affect the big newspapers
3. What advice would you give someone just starting out in this business?
Get clips- stories, write lots of stories
Get experience writing stories and showing them
The more you do the more valuable you are
4. What are the different kind of issues you could cover in journalism?
CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICE, POLITICS, EDUCATION
Taxpayer doallars, how we’re using them
SPORTS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - building community
“Our role is to hold people accountable”
5. If you had to chose a different career, what options would be avaliable to you with your
kind of education and skills?
Public Relations
Socail Media
Writing is important in any job so anyone
6. I know that the physical newspaper world is dying, how should one prepare for this new
tech-inspired world of news?
Digital natives will be fine
Gen Z is laready tech savy and ready tech wise - SOCIAL MEDIA
It’s always changing, you have to be flexible
Video and auto editing
You can’t just be a writer, knowing as many skills as possible

Kinds of education
1. What’s the best plan education wise for the journalism industry?
Think about goals and what you want
Industry is so mixed it doesn’t matter
Communications with an emphasis in wirting but not journalism degree
You need multiple skills, get all the education
2. Do you need certain degrees or majors in order to become a journalist? If so, what are
they?
Nope, depends on you
There’s not a “right way” to be journalist
3. What kind of internships should you try to get?
You need to know people- ​making connections
Lots of competition
Knowing the right people and going after the connections, taking advantage
Be ready for anything, take all the opportunities
It’s harder to get an internships
Get an internship at radio stations and tv stations, work your way up
 Go local, it’s a stepping stone

4. Does the kind of college you go to affect what kind of jobs you get?
Are peope here? The professors are important
The networking is important, it’s a good launching pad for your career
Your location matters, is this where I want to work and create connections?

How it affects your life?

1. I know your hours can be long and unpredictable, does that mess with your personal
life?
Yes everyday is different
It does sometimes take a toll, not having a routine
You have to have a balance between hustle and what you as a person can do, your
limits
It’s a hard industry, you have to prepare for that
It takes a toll on your mental health, you have to make sacrifices its just the job
There are highs and lows, there’s backlash
2. What kind of relationships do you get out of journalism?
You cant really have realtionships, you just need to have good sources
Manage your emotions when talking to sources- keep them at arms length
Good source relationships and bad sources relationships, it’s a find line ot walk
3. Is it time consuming outside of the office?
Yes, it depends on the beat and what’s happening during that time
4. I know that news never sleeps, so how do you work with that?
Sometimes it’s hard to keep plans
You have to explain to people what your job is like
5. Do you think the skills you learn from work benefit your personal relationships?
Yes it helps
Managing conflicts
Knowing people require differents managment skills
Relationship managemtns
Sources are everything so you need to keep those sources kind

Clearinghouse
1. Is there anything I haven’t asked about that you think I should know?
Get good clips, report at...
Have fun when your young, keep the fun and learn as much as you can
2. Is there anyone else that I should get in touch with to better my connections and
prepardness to become a journalist?
Depends on what you want to writie about, get lots of different backgrounds.